Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare These are indeed very strange times that we live in.  All our lives are on the line during this pandemic, especially individuals in congregate living communities and workers in those communities.  In the past few days, I’ve read two (2) articles that were almost heart-stopping for…… Continue reading COVID-19: Staff and Survey Team Members – Food for Thought

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The 4-page SNF COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet is now available. This tip sheet is designed to assist Skilled Nursing Facility providers in understanding the status of the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).  Also provided is practical guidance to address…… Continue reading SNF QRP COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet is Available

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare  CMS updated Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes … Version 6on July 23, 2020.  If you’re keeping track, this latest version has 154 pages.  COVID-19 Nursing Home Submitted Data as of Week Ending: 07/12/2020 is now available.  “The Nursing Home COVID-19…… Continue reading NH COVID-19 Toolkit – Version 6 and Submitted COVID Data for Week Ending July 12, 2020

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted a 6-page FAQ document that answers 21 questions regarding provision of COVID-19 testing platforms and tests to nursing homes.  Also posted was information about CMS methodology for prioritizing facilities and a listing of the facilities.  The methodology and listing is in the form…… Continue reading BREAKING NEWS: COVID-19 Testing at Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Homes and PRF Reporting Information Released

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare If you missed this National CMS/CDC Nursing Home COVID-19 Training session on July 23, 2020, you can access the presentation slides and associated resources here.  The recording of the session will be posted to this same site within a couple of days. CDC staff discussed the…… Continue reading Is Your Nursing Home Ready to Handle the Demands of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare As expected, (and prayed/hoped for) Alex M. Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services renewed the PHE declaration on July 23, 2020 – 2 days before it would have expired.  Public Health Emergency declarations are effective for 90-day periods and must be renewed or they expire. …… Continue reading Renewal of Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The CDC released updated findings and recommendations regarding the Duration of Isolation and Precautions for Adults with COVID-19 on July 22, 2020.  “Accumulating evidence supports ending isolation and precautions for persons with COVID-19 using a symptom-based strategy. This update incorporates recent evidence to inform the duration…… Continue reading Duration of Isolation and Precautions for Adults with COVID-19 Updated

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare If you listened to the Wednesday, July 22, 2020 CMS COVID-19 Nursing Home Call, you heard Evan Shulman, Director, Division of Nursing Homes for CMS moderating this afternoon’s 30-minute session.  It was announcement that nursing homes with a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment) certificate would begin…… Continue reading COVID-19 POC Tests and Machines Coming to Nursing Homes Starting This Week

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued a bulletin on Monday, July 20, 2020.  This 8-page bulletin is a must-read. “As part of the national response to the COVID‐19 public health emergency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided substantial Federal financial…… Continue reading Civil Rights Protections Prohibiting Race, Color and National Origin Discrimination During COVID‐19

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This is the Comprehensive National Nursing Home Training series: – Fast-Track Infection Prevention and Control Training for Nursing Homes Located in COVID-19 Hotspots.  The next session is: Tuesday, July 21, 2020 (Register here) | 4 – 5 PM ET | 3 – 4 PM CT |…… Continue reading Fast-Track Infection Prevention and Control Training for Nursing Homes Located in COVID-19 Hotspots