State Initiates Demobilization of Emergency Support Services

Posted on July 7, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

This week, the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) initiated a plan to demobilize COVID-19 emergency services for long-term care providers over the next several months. Noting significant progress in the fight against the virus, the SEOC has set a timeline for winding down services relating to crisis staffing support, personal protective equipment (PPE), testing/swabbing services, and vaccination administration support. 

Any provider currently using these State services or that would do so if needed in an emergency should review this document and begin to identify alternative resources. For example, mobile testing teams that provide on-site swabbing services will no longer be available beginning July 15. Each facility will need to coordinate swabbing efforts using their own trained staff or collaborate with local provider partners to collect specimens when needed.

Here is a snapshot of key service areas and their demobilization timelines:

Program area	Service demobilized	End date
Staffing	Staffing call line	Aug. 31
	Staffing email address	Aug. 31
	Crisis Staff Managers	Aug. 31
	Aladtec System	Dec. 31
Testing	Nurse triage line	June 30
	Mobile specimen collection	July 15
	MDH standing order	Sept. 30
	Mayo Health System’s lab processing	Dec. 31
Vaccination	Two of three SEOC vaccination contractors	Aug. 31
	Assisted living facility vaccination reporting in REDCap	Aug. 31
	Final vaccination contractor	Sept. 30
PPE	Final PPE push to requesting assisted living facilities	July 31
	REDCap PPE request link	Sept. 30
	PPE email address	Dec. 31

While demobilization is a sign that things are getting better, we know COVID-19 continues to impact our members significantly. We will work with the State and the regional healthcare coalitions to ensure resources are available if needs increase again in the future. Acknowledging this possibility, the demobilization plan notes that MDH "will continue to monitor a variety of data sources and maintain open communications with statewide response partners, to ensure all partners are prepared for a potential statewide surge."

We have also worked hard over the past several months to inform MDH about the severity of the workforce challenges our members are facing, even if not directly related to COVID illnesses and exposures, and we will work with MDH and other agency leaders to identify what role the State could play in addressing this critical statewide issue.

If you have questions about the SEOC demobilization, please contact Jonathan Lips or Kari Everson.