New state board will use info to make recommendations to state lawmakers The Home Care Employment Standards Board (HCESB), which was created by Senate Bill 340 of the 81st Session of the Nevada Legislature with the purpose of studying and investigating working conditions in the critical home care industry, has developed two surveys and is seeking input and help from licensed personal care agencies.
The data gathered in these surveys will impact decisions and legislation concerning personal care workers and the Nevada’s home care industry as a whole. This information will be used to inform recommendations made by HCESB to the Director of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Personal care agencies are asked to complete the Survey for Employers, and then to distribute the Survey for Employees/Workers link to all personal care workers under your employ. The two surveys are linked below. Responses to both surveys are anonymous.
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Influenza-like illness and hospitalization rates are higher than typically expected this time of the year The 2021-2022 influenza surveillance season began on October 3, 2021, and was set to end on May 21, 2022. However, results of the current influenza surveillance efforts have shown that Nevada, along with the nation, is experiencing higher case rates, influenza-like illness rates and hospitalization rates than what are typically expected during this time of the year. The 2020-2021 influenza surveillance season was historically low due to several layered mitigation measures that were implemented on a population scale to slow the spread of COVID-19. Many of these mitigation measures, such as masking, were still in effect during much of the 2021-2022 influenza season. Now that these population-scale mitigation measures are no longer in place, health officials are seeing a rise in influenza, and it is unclear how influenza rates and hospitalizations will trend moving into the summer months. Given this uncertainty along with the increasing trends, the current influenza surveillance season in Nevada will be extended through the summer months and into the 2022-2023 season, which will begin on October 2, 2022.
For full information, see the technical bulletin linked here. State health officials issue technical bulletin with guidance for health care providers On May 20, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians, hospitals, laboratories and public health authorities about monkeypox cases identified in the United States.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and CDC are investigating a confirmed case of monkeypox in the United States. On May 17, 2022, skin lesions that had several features suspicious for monkeypox—firm, well circumscribed, deep-seated, and umbilicated lesions—on a Massachusetts resident prompted specialized Laboratory Response Network (LRN) testing of swab specimens collected from the resident; preliminary testing confirmed the presence of DNA consistent with an orthopoxvirus using Orthopoxvirus generic and non-variola Orthopoxvirus real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. This group of viruses includes monkeypox virus (the causative agent of monkeypox). Testing at CDC on May 18 confirmed the patient was infected with a West African strain of monkeypox virus. The patient is currently isolated and does not pose a risk to the public. For more information, including signs and symptoms, transmission, treatment and reporting guidance, see the technical bulletin linked here. Building unit shutdowns may increase risk for Legionnaires’ disease Environmental health inspectors from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are cautioning the responsible staff (Maintenance Directors, Facility operators, etc.) of health facilities to be aware and take appropriate precautions to prevent this Legionnaires’ disease and protect the safety of your residents, patients, visitors, employees, and surrounding communities.
Legionnaires’ (LEE-juh-nares) disease is a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by Legionella (LEE-juh-nell-a) bacteria. People can get sick when they breathe in small droplets of water or accidently swallow water containing Legionella into the lungs. Many areas (hallways, patient rooms, stations, supportive service rooms, etc.) of health care buildings were forced to temporarily shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the plumbing systems providing water to these areas may have been neglected or not properly maintained. This increases the incidence of stagnant or standing water, which increases the risk of Legionella or other biofilm-related diseases. Common sources of Legionella can be found in faucets, pipes, cooling equipment, showers, drinking water, ice machines, water tanks, etc. The department’s Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC) encourages facility staff to use the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web page linked here to learn about Legionnaires’ disease. In addition, the toolkit provided in the CDC link can be used to create and apply routine control measures to prevent Legionella exposure. Contact HCQC’s Environmental Health staff at 775-684-1061 with any further questions or concerns. Applicants and employees will no longer need to visit Las Vegas Metro for child care work cards Starting May 17, 2022, child care work cards will no longer be required as part of the fingerprinting process for background checks to work in state-licensed child care facilities.
As of that date, new and renewing child care employees in Clark County will submit fingerprints using the “live scan” process that is available at many fingerprinting businesses/agencies. Prints are still submitted to the Nevada Department of Public Safety, according to the requirements for all new child care facility employees or employees who are up for renewal. Child care employees need to take the Fingerprinting Instructions and Background Consent and Release forms with them when getting their fingerprints taken. The Out-of-State Verification form is needed by employees who have lived outside Nevada at any time during the past five years. Applicants/renewing child care employees in Clark County no longer need to go to a Las Vegas Metro Police office to pick up child care work cards. These individuals will now get live scanned or can get a fingerprint card from the employing child care facility to have fingerprints rolled in the traditional manner. The updated instructions and necessary forms are linked online at the Forms for Nevada Licensed Child Care Facilities web page. Anyone in the Clark County area seeking to complete their background check to work in a licensed child care facility can contact the State of Nevada Child Care Licensing office for help:
Specifics about completing the self-report form described online for facilities to reference Skilled nursing facilities are required to self-report certain types of incidents to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC) by using an online form.
The types of incidents required to be reported are:
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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
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