Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The National Emphasis Program is the latest OSHA initiative in response to the coronavirus pandemic.  The NEP is a new enforcement program, effective for the next 12 months unless canceled or extended by a superseding directive.  Note the effective date of March 12, 2021. “This Direction…… Continue reading OSHA: National Emphasis Program – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare “On March 10, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued updated guidance for nursing homes to safely expand visitation options during the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency (PHE). Today, CMS is releasing a…… Continue reading Getting the Word Out: Visiting Loved Ones in a Nursing Home – Text and Graphic Available

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the COVID-19 county positivity rates for March 15, 2021.   Reminder: Regulations for testing based on county positivity rates are found here andPast postings are found here.   In case you missed the CMS updated visitation guidance for long-term care facilities issued last week, review…… Continue reading CMS Posts COVID-19 County Positivity Rates – March 15, 2021

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has just posted updated nursing home COVID-19 data for week ending February 28, 2021. CDC has posted COVID-19 data as of 6am on March 10, 2021: Vaccinations and continued mitigation efforts are making the difference! In case you missed it, CMS has just revised/updated visitation…… Continue reading CMS & CDC COVID-19 Data Updates

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Late yesterday afternoon, I blogged about CMS revising NH visitation at this stage of the PHE. This morning, I’m providing the link to the Fact Sheet: CMS Updates Nursing Home Guidance with Revised Visitation Recommendations.  The corresponding CMS Press Release can be viewed here.  (Just an…… Continue reading Revised NH Visitation Recommendations Fact Sheet & Press Release

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Late this afternoon, CMS posted a revised QSO-20-39-NH … Nursing Home Visitation. This 8-page memorandum was updated from its initial version, back on September 17, 2020. “Since the release of QSO memorandum 20-39-NH on September 17, 2020, COVID-19 vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization from the…… Continue reading Breaking News: Nursing Home Visitation – COVID-19 (REVISED)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare “After the Long Term Care (LTC) Pharmacy Partnership Program finishes their third clinics, LTC facilities (skilled nursing, assisted living, ID/DD, and other congregate care settings) will need to secure access to vaccine for new residents, staff, and those who did not get vaccinated initially. To secure…… Continue reading Accessing COVID-19 Vaccine in Long-Term Care

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS just posted the most recent county positivity rates dated March 8, 2021. Reminders: Staff testing for COVID-19 is based on county positivity rates.  That regulation is found here.  Previous data is available in these archives.   

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Breaking News – March 8, 2021 … CDC has just issued an updated Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.   Please note that the bolding and boxing in the verbiage below was added by me. This is the first set of public health recommendations for…… Continue reading CDC Provides Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted COVID-19 data in LTCFs for week ending February 21, 2021.  AHCA/NCAL marked the One Year Anniversary of COVID-19 in America’s Long-Term Care Facilities  in this YouTube video (28 minutes, 45 seconds) on March 2, 2021 – it’s well worth your time to watch. …… Continue reading CMS and CDC LTC COVID-19 Data Updates