The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), recently announced that we will begin providing nursing homes with a Point of Care (POC) rapid response testing instrument to bolster each facility’s ability to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The data collected through the NHSN system directly … Read More
More info on pharmacy partnership program for LTC
Late in the day Friday, October 16, 2020, I quickly blogged on this newly announced program. Registration for this program begins today and runs for 2 weeks. This program will provide the COVID-19 vaccine (when it’s available) to nursing home residents as well as those individuals residing in assisted living and independent … Read More
Updated: 3-Day stay and benefit period COVID-19 waiver guidance fact sheet
On October 2, 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) renewed the declaration of the COVID-19 national public health emergency (PHE), and it will now extend through at least January 20, 2021 (unless the Secretary renews the PHE again). This means that most of the Section 1135 and … Read More
International Infection Prevention Week: October 18 – 24, 2020
Yes, there’s a week for this and it couldn’t be timelier this year and this week (every week actually). COVID-19 has shown the world what we’ve always known—infection preventionists (IPs) are essential to keeping the world safe. In addition to all the usual suspects (healthcare-associated infections, resurgence in measles outbreaks, … Read More
Pharmacy partnership for long-term care program
Late afternoon Friday, October 16, 2020, NHSN/CDC sent the following letter to NHSN LTCF Users: Dear NHSN Long-term Care Facility Users, Immunization with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a critical component of our Nation’s strategy to reduce COVID-19 related illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. Early in the COVID-19 vaccination … Read More