Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, guidance from CDC, CMS, and states on effective preparedness and outbreak management is being updated frequently. It is essential that LTC providers have strong processes in place for updating facility policies and procedures and staff training on policy updates as guidance changes. Do you have all of the necessary written COVID-19 policies and procedures in place? Review this list of recommended COVID-19 policies against your current policy listing:
- Transmission Based Precautions
- COVID-19 Testing
- Group and Individual Activities
- Admission/Re-admissions
- Cohorting
- Communal Dining
- Communication/Reporting of COVID-19 Status
- Use of Skilled MCR Waivers
- Donning/Doffing PPE
- Emergency Staffing
- Environmental Cleaning
- Optimizing Supply of PPE
- Quarantine/Isolation Units
- Resident, Staff, and Visitor Screening
- Return to Work
- Training
- Transfer/Discharges
- Visitor Restrictions
- Resident appointments
- Visitation procedures
- Use of point-of-care antigen testing devices
- Essential Family Caregivers
It is recommended that you designate specific staff members to review guidance on a routine basis and update policy and procedures routinely based on changes in guidance. Maintain documentation to support dates that policy updates were made, content changes to policies, and dates of approved changes.
Contact Proactive for assistance in ensuring compliant policies and procedures or to schedule a mock survey of Infection Prevention and Control.
Blog by Shelly Maffia, MSN, MBA, RN, LNHA, QCP, CHC, CLNC, Proactive Medical Review
Click here to learn more about Shelly and the rest of the Proactive team.