Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes … Version 21 is the latest version, updated in April 2021.   It Includes recent information and guidance on vaccinations to prevent infection with influenza virus, pneumococcus, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Unanswered Questions:…… Continue reading Recently Updated COVID-19 Information/Guidance

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the nursing home COVID-19 data for week ending April 25, 2021.  Cases and deaths for both residents and staff continue to stabilize and remain much improved since the vaccination programs in LTCFs and overall communities began.  Keep working on getting folks vaccinated –…… Continue reading CDC, CMS and NHSN COVID-19 Updates

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On May 5, 2021, as a part of CMS’ ongoing COVID response efforts to support the long-term care community, we debuted our first social media videos highlighting staff, also referred to as Community Champions, who moved from being initially uncertain about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to…… Continue reading Community Champions Video Launch (CMS)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the May 3, 2021 county positivity rates.  The updated CMS guidance QSO-20-38-NH posted April 27, 2021 provides the latest requirements regarding testing of staff and residents.   Archived county positivity data is found here. 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the latest LTC COVID-19 data – week ending April 18, 2021.  CDC’s COVID-19 Data Tracker shows this LTCF data as of early morning April 30, 2021: NHSN data as of April 26, 2021:

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The April 28, 2021 Early Release of this week’s MMWR (CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) provides this very encouraging information! Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines Against COVID-19 Among Hospitalized Adults Aged ≥65 Years — United States, January–March 2021 “In the current report, Pfizer-BioNTech and…… Continue reading COVID Vaccination Reduced Risk for Hospitalization 65+ Years of Age

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare During April 2021, AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) created a landing page that is filled with resources to assist LTCFs.  It’s a website you’ll want to bookmark and check periodically for additional information. “Nursing home administrators and others may benefit from the following specific…… Continue reading Leadership, Management and Safe Operations – AHRQ COVID-19 Resources

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CDC updated both the recommendations for fully vaccinated people and Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination on April 27, 2021. The former hyperlink contains these overall updates: The latter hyperlink above contains these overall updates: You’ll see the following graphic on…… Continue reading CDC Updates Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare “Following a thorough safety review, including two meetings of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that the recommended pause regarding the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)…… Continue reading FDA and CDC Lift Recommended Pause on Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine Use

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the latest county positivity rates – April 26, 2021.  Reminders: Archived data found hereRegulations and guidelines for testing based on county positivity rates found here