COVID-19 Resource Round-Up: Infection Control, Testing and Resident Engagement

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Jodi Boyne

In this week’s COVID-19 Resource Round-Up, we feature new tools that will help nursing homes enhance infection control, guide providers in testing, and ideas and guidance on how to engage residents during a time of social distancing and visitor restrictions.   

• Nursing Home Focused Survey Review:  Safe Care in the Age of COVID: Learnings from Focused Infection Control Surveys in Nursing Homes - offers data on the categories of deficient practices most commonly cited by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and identifies general themes along with contributing factors and suggestions to consider as you examine your practices and procedures.
   
• Testing Roadmap: A successful Point Prevalence Survey  (i.e. testing a group of individuals at a single time to provide information on the overall number of affected individuals in the setting) requires planning among different stakeholders, including you, MDH, local public health, laboratory and medical advisors. The MDH Roadmap for Conducting a COVID-19 PPS  provides guidance, resources and a process to conduct testing in your setting.
   
• Testing Vendors: Use our COVID-19 RT-PCR Testing Vendor List to contract with a testing vendor that meets the needs of your organization; and don’t forget to review and use our COVID-19 Testing: Questions to Ask Potential Testing Vendors in evaluating vendors. 
   
• Resident Engagement: Current CMS guidance says “group activities may also be facilitated (for residents who have fully recovered from COVID-19, and for those not in isolation for observation, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 status) with social distancing among residents, appropriate hand hygiene, and use of a cloth face covering or facemask.” MDH has indicated it supports this guidance and we are seeking that confirmation from them in writing. Looking for new ideas on activities? Download Ideas to Help Engage & Connect Residents and Virtual Adventures programming guide.