Follow CMS guidelines, maintain infection control practices Skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities are reminded that they need to continue following Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines to protect their staff and residents from COVID-19. Guidelines can be found in an updated memo here on the CMS website. These guidelines emphasize the importance of maintaining infection prevention practices, given the continued risk of COVID-19 transmission.
The guidelines address these topics:
0 Comments
Technical bulletin outlines new guidelines for this most reported bloodborne infection The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued updated guidelines regarding screening for Hepatitis C, which is the most reported bloodborne infection in the United States with nearly 2.4 million persons in the nation living with hepatitis C virus (HCV). National surveillance data showed increase in reported cases of acute HCV infection every year from 2009 to 2017 with the highest rates of acute infection among persons aged 20–39 years. There is no vaccine for protection against HCV and no effective pre- or postexposure prophylaxis is available.
New universal Hepatitis C screening recommendations include:
Technical bulletin provides details about enrolling with and reporting to National Health Safety Network All skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and Medicaid nursing facilities licensed in Nevada must report COVID-19 testing and vaccination data on a weekly basis through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). To report to NHSN, each facility must have designated staff who are enrolled with NHSN. For the facility to gain full reporting access in NHSN, their assigned staff must complete the Secure Access Management Services (SAMS) identity verification process. This process can take weeks to get approval and requires a notary, so the process should not be delayed, and several staff should be approved so facilities have back-up reporters.
On May 11, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published an interim final rule that includes this NHSN reporting requirement, along with new requirements for nursing homes about educating residents or resident representatives and staff regarding the benefits and potential side effects associated with the COVID-19 vaccine and offering the vaccine. For full details, see the technical bulletin titled, "COVID-19 Data Reporting Requirement for Skilled Nursing Facilities," posted to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health’s technical bulletin web page. CDC says COVID-19 vaccination should not be delayed because of testing for Tuberculosis infection The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently updated its interim guidance on clinical considerations for use of the three COVID-19 vaccines with guidance on tuberculosis (TB) testing. The full updated CDC Clinical Considerations can be accessed here at the CDC website.
A summary of CDC’s Interim Guidance for TB Testing Around COVID-19 Vaccine Administration is below:
Alternate options available for individuals with a COVID vaccination Individuals getting the COVID vaccine could experience a delay in being able to get a TB test. There are options for TB testing that don’t include injection of the purified protein derivative (PPD). An individual can have a blood sample taken and tested via the Quantiferon® TB test (approved since 2001), or the regulations allow for a chest x-ray and certification by a health care provider. If individuals choose the PPD injection, then there may be a delay before they are able to work around children. It’s up to the individual to choose the option that works best for them.
|
AuthorThe Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC) licenses medical and other health facilities, child care facilities and personnel, and medical laboratories and personnel in Nevada. HCQC also conducts compliance surveys and takes complaints. Archives
October 2023
Categories
All
|