| AHCA/NCAL Requests Extension Of Public Health Emergency | https://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Press-Releases/Pages/AHCANCAL-Requests-Extension-Of-Public-Health-Emergency-.aspx | AHCA/NCAL Requests Extension Of Public Health Emergency | | | | | 8/9/2022 4:00:00 AM | | <p></p><div><span style="font-size:14.6667px;"><strong>WASHINGTON, D.C. – </strong>The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living communities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year, sent a letter today to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, requesting an extension of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). With new COVID-19 variants emerging and flu season approaching, extending the PHE will ensure that long term care facilities have the necessary resources to continue providing quality care to our nation’s seniors. In addition, as the pandemic continues to evolve, AHCA/NCAL asked that HHS update its COVID-19 guidance for health care settings. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:14.6667px;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size:14.6667px;">Read the full letter <a href="/News-and-Communications/Fact-Sheets/Letters/AHCA-NCAL-Letter-HHS-Aug2022.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div><div><br></div> | AHCA/NCAL sent a letter today to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, requesting an extension of the Public Health Emergency. | |
| CMS Issues Final Rule and Brings Solution to FSES Problem | https://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Issues-Final-Rule-and-Brings-Solution-to-FSES-Problem.aspx | CMS Issues Final Rule and Brings Solution to FSES Problem | | | | | 8/2/2022 4:00:00 AM | | <p></p><div>Most organizations have never heard of a Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES), much less had to complete and submit one as part of their annual life safety survey. However, for a small group of providers across the country, the FSES has been a critical tool in documenting Life Safety Code® compliance through an equivalent means. When an unforeseen amendment to the mandatory safety values in the 2013 edition of NFPA 101A (FSES) left many providers without an effective equivalency tool, some facilities faced significant construction projects, resulting in massive costs and operational disruption to maintain strict Life Safety Code® compliance. This was the only option even though organizations that passed the previously adopted 2001 edition of 101A, but failed the 2013 edition, were no less safe. </div><div><br></div><div>After many years of advocacy, reviews by CMS, and multiple limited waiver extensions, CMS issued a <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2022-16457.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">final rule</a> in July 2022 that addresses the problem. It also allows the FSES to be a realistic tool once again for long term care facilities that had utilized it in the past. </div><div><br></div><div>The CMS final rule essentially permits nursing homes that were Medicare or Medicaid certified before July 5, 2016, and previously utilized an FSES as a mechanism to determine equivalency, to utilize the mandatory values found in the 2001 edition of NFPA 101A. <strong>The more restrictive mandatory values found in the 2013 edition of NFPA 101A will not apply.</strong> This is important since the 2013 edition of the NFPA 101A is the edition currently adopted by CMS. </div><div><br></div><div>While this issue only directly affects a minority of nursing homes and AHCA members, it has been an extremely consequential issue for those providers that were impacted. AHCA has long advocated on behalf of its members affected by the problem and is pleased that CMS has finalized a solution.</div><div><br></div><div>The full text can be found starting on page 298 of the <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2022-16457.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">final rule</a>.<br></div> | Most organizations have never heard of a Fire Safety Evaluation System, much less had to complete and submit one as part of their annual life safety survey. | |
| View HealthCap’s® New Free Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar | https://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/View-HealthCap’s-New-Free-Active-Shooter-Preparedness-Webinar.aspx | View HealthCap’s® New Free Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar | | | | | 7/26/2022 4:00:00 AM | | <p><br></p><div>HealthCap® offers a new free webinar titled <em><a href="https://riskmanagement.healthcapusa.com/products/active-shooter-preparedness" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">Active Shooter Preparedness</a></em>. This program focuses on key aspects of active shooter events and what to do if your long term care community experiences a threat or real-life active shooter. </div><div> </div><div>Most of us think we work in a home that would never have an active shooter event. Unfortunately, it happens, and active shooter training is a mandatory part of disaster preparation. Even if your home has a “lock down” protocol, it may not be effective. </div><div> </div><div>Many communities want to keep active shooter training private and not share information about active shooter event planning. However, it is critical that this discussion and the planning for active shooter disaster be clear and open to prepare your staff and decrease the risk of a negative outcome in the event of an active shooter. </div><div> </div><div>This training focuses on key aspects of active shooter preparation and what to do if your community experiences a threat or real-life active shooter event. The training will help you answer these questions: </div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Who will you call? </li><li>Who will you notify? </li><li>How will you deploy your staff and use additional resources? </li><li>What are the keys to protecting your residents and staff? </li><li>How do work, in advance, with local law enforcement? <br></li></ul></div><div><br><a href="https://riskmanagement.healthcapusa.com/products/active-shooter-preparedness" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">Registration</a> for all participants is free. The webinar is approved for 1.0 ANCC contact hours and 1.25 NAB CEs upon completion. The course learning objectives include: </div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Define an active shooter event </li><li>Identify strategies to protect your residents and staff </li><li>Discuss the importance of open lines of communication with first responders </li><li>Discuss media interaction/communication </li><li>Identify methods to establish response and recovery post-event. </li></ul></div><div><br></div><div>AHCA/NCAL has embraced <a href="https://healthcapusa.com/" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">HealthCap®</a> for more than a decade as a premier provider of liability insurance that is solely dedicated to serving senior care communities. HealthCap® clients have the fewest liability claims in the industry, and HealthCap settles claims below the industry average.<br></div> | HealthCap® offers a new free webinar titled Active Shooter Preparedness. | |
| CDC Updates Guidance on Enhanced Barrier Precautions for Nursing Homes | https://publish.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CDC-Updates-Guidance-on-Enhanced-Barrier-Precautions-for-Nursing-Homes.aspx | CDC Updates Guidance on Enhanced Barrier Precautions for Nursing Homes | | | | | 7/12/2022 4:00:00 AM | | <p><span style="font-size:11pt;"><span style="color:#808080;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:#ffffff;"></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;">Coinciding with a new <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/covid19-impact-report-508.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">report</a> on antimicrobial resistance, the CDC has updated its guidance on <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/containment/PPE-Nursing-Homes.html" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">enhanced barrier precautions</a> (EBP) for all health care settings, including nursing homes. The guidance expands to residents that trigger the use of EBP and indicates it should be followed for any resident in the facility with:</span></p><div><ol><li>An open wound requiring a dressing change</li><li>Has an indwelling catheter for the duration of their stay</li><li>Is colonized with <span style="color:#555555;font-size:14.6667px;background-color:#ffffff;">multi-drug resistant organisms</span> (MDROs) <strong>and</strong> contact precautions do not apply </li></ol></div><div><br></div><div>The EBP requires the use of gown and gloves during high-contact resident care activities that provide opportunities for transfer of MDROs to staff hands and clothing. Use of eye protection may be necessary when splash or spray may occur but is not necessary in other situations.</div><div><br></div><div>Examples of high-contact resident care activities requiring gown and glove use among residents that trigger EBP use include:<br><br></div><div><ul><li>Dressing</li><li>Bathing/showering</li><li>Transferring</li><li>Providing hygiene</li><li>Changing linens</li><li>Changing briefs or assisting with toileting</li><li>Device care or use: central line, urinary catheter, feeding tube, tracheostomy/ventilator</li><li>Wound care: any skin opening requiring a dressing<br></li></ul></div><div>Gown and gloves are <strong>not</strong> required for resident care activities other than those listed above, unless otherwise necessary for adherence to standard precautions. <strong>Residents on EBP are not restricted to their rooms or limited from participation in group activities.</strong></div><div><br></div><div>The CDC provides the following considerations for use of EBP in nursing facilities:<br><br></div><div><ul><li>MDRO transmission is common in skilled nursing facilities, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality for residents and increased costs for health care systems.<br></li></ul></div><div><ul><li>EBP is an approach of targeted gown and glove use during high-contact resident care activities, designed to reduce transmission of S. aureus and MDROs.<br></li></ul></div><div><ul><li>Effective implementation of EBP requires staff training on the proper use of PPE and the availability of PPE with hand hygiene products at the point of care.</li></ul></div><div>It also clarified that, in most situations, EBP is to be continued for the duration of a resident’s admission. </div><div><br></div><div>Facilities should consider that EBP is one of a continuum of infection prevention interventions. EBP implementation requires increased use of gown and gloves, ongoing competency with PPE use and hand hygiene, and the current nursing home and pandemic environment. </div><div><br></div><div>Additional information and supplemental resources to support implementation of EBP are available at the below links. </div><div><br></div><div><strong>Guidance:</strong> </div><div><ul><li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/containment/PPE-Nursing-Homes.html" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">Implementation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Use in Nursing Homes to Prevent Spread of Multidrug-resistant Organisms (MDROs) </a></li></ul></div><div><br></div><div><strong>FAQs: </strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/containment/faqs.html" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Enhanced Barrier Precautions in Nursing Homes</a> </li></ul></div><div><br></div><div><strong>Resources: </strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/containment/EBP-Presentation-July2022.pptx" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">Implementation of Enhanced Barrier Precautions in Nursing Homes Presentation </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/containment/Letter-Nursing-Home-Residents-Families-Friends-508.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">Enhanced Barrier Precautions Letter to Nursing Home Residents, Families, Friends, and Volunteers </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/containment/Letter-Nursing-Home-Staff-508.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" target="_blank">Enhanced Barrier Precautions Letter to Nursing Home Staff </a></li></ul></div> | The CDC updated its guidance on enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) for nursing homes to expand the residents that trigger the use of EBP. | |