Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The CDC website with the same title of this blog is one you’ll want to visit as well as bookmark for future reference. You’ll find lots of information on access to COVID-19 vaccines including: Vaccination in the Local CommunityVaccination On-siteAdditional Support for LTC SettingsInformation About COVID-19…… Continue reading LTC Administrators and Managers: Options for Coordinating Access to COVID-19 Vaccines

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CDC has updated Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes as of September 10, 2021. Scroll down on the landing page (hyperlink above chart) to find numerous categories and corresponding guidance/recommendations. Also updated on September 10, 2021 was Interim Infection…… Continue reading CDC Updates Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Topic: 2021 Changes to the Weekly NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination Data Collection Forms for Long-Term Care Facilities Date: Thursday, September 23, 2021Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST Register in advance for this webinar:https://cdc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_wQWphrcdRvCy4ATVbJ6BpQexternal icon After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ PARTICIPANTS WILL…… Continue reading Upcoming NHSN Webinar: Changes to Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data Collection Forms for LTCFs

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Late the afternoon of Friday, September 10, 2021, CMS posted a revised QSO-20-38-NH.  Note the red ink for the last 2 bullets in this Memorandum Summary: Other changes in the 12-page Memorandum include: Be sure to review the entire QSO Memorandum carefully with your team.  I’ve…… Continue reading URGENT: QSO-20-38-NH Revised … Testing Changes Effective Immediately

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS issued this revised SE20011 (19 pages) on September 8, 2021. SNF Qualifying Hospital Stay (QHS) and Benefit Period Waivers – Provider Information CMS recognizes that disruptions arising from a PHE can affect coverage under the SNF benefit: Prevent a patient from having the 3-day inpatient…… Continue reading MLN Matters: Medicare FFS Response to the PHE on COVID-19 (Revised)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare JAMA Network Open posted the results of this original Public Health investigation on September 9, 2021.  [NOTE: you will see 2 Download PDF icons on this landing page that will allow you to download the PDF version of this report.]  Additionally, Invited Commentary on this investigation…… Continue reading Estimates of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Among NH Residents Not Reported in Federal Data

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare You may have noticed that some of the hyperlinks in the late yesterday’s Breaking News:Biden-Harris Administration to Expand Vaccination Requirements for HC Settings blog sent you to a security notice instead of the intended website.  I apologize for that – still getting used to new email…… Continue reading Follow-Up to Administration Expansion of Vaccination Requirements for HC Settings Posting

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted NH data for week ending August 29, 2021. Comparing numbers posted for the week ending August 29, 2021, to the week ending August 22, 2021: Staff vaccination increased this latest reporting week by 0.9%Resident vaccination increased this latest reporting week by 0.3%Staff cases…… Continue reading Latest CMS, CDC & NHSN COVID-19 Data Posted

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This morning (September 10, 2021), COCA issued this informational statement: Genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been emerging and circulating around the world throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Viral mutations and variants in the United States are routinely monitored through sequence-based surveillance, laboratory studies, and epidemiological investigations. Recent…… Continue reading Monoclonal Antibodies Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab May Be Less Effective for Treating Cases of COVID-19 Caused by Variants

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This HHS (Health and Human Services) Amendment Notice is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, September 14, 2021: Here is the unpublished or preview copy of that notice for your review.   This amendment is effective on the day of FR publication –…… Continue reading Ninth Amendment to Declaration Under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID–19