Here are the latest need-to-know updates for Thursday, March 26 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, March 25, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) released numerous updates to guidance for healthcare providers, outlined below.
Revisions to the Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) included:
The CDC included two checklists that identify actions that can be taken now to enhance preparedness for potential or confirmed patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19):
The CDC also released a personal protective equipment (PPE) burn rate calculator, a spreadsheet-based model that provides information for healthcare facilities to plan and optimize the use of PPE for response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This tool can also be used for planning PPE use outside the context of COVID-19, where PPE shortages may also occur due to supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 response (e.g. manufacturing facilities).
Hospices are facing tremendous challenges as they work to continue providing vital end-of-life care under the threat of COVID-19. Hospice organizations throughout the nation that operate their own inpatient units are moving with great speed to ensure the continued comfort and safety of some of the most vulnerable of hospice patients – those that are receiving general inpatient care (GIP) and inpatient respite care (IRC). Join NAHC for a FREE one-hour session during which an expert panel will discuss what their organizations are doing to prepare their facilities and facility staff for COVID-19, followed by a question and answer session. Click here to register for the call webinar.
We are grateful to LeadingAge Ohio partners Value First and Link-age Solutions for helping members address PPE shortages. Both of these group purchasing organizations (GPO) are designed for aging services providers.
Each LeadingAge Ohio member's primary contact was sent an email this morning by Corey Markham regarding a potential opportunity regarding PPE. Click here to access the information shared in that email.
Ohio’s professional licensing boards have issued the following waivers related to CE and other licensing and license renewal processes.
Board of Executives of Long-term Services and Supports (BELTSS)
Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN)
State Medical Board of Ohio
Counselor, Social Work & Marriage & Family Therapist Board
CPR Certifications Extended by American Heart Association
The American Heart Association has extended certification renewals for CPR for 60 days after the date of expiration for healthcare employees.
Some LeadingAge Ohio members are struggling to get background checks processed due to closures in their communities, including local sheriff's offices. LeadingAge Ohio wants to offer BCI technology sharing between our members.
If you have equipment to complete background checks and are able to assist other members, please forward your contact information to Karen Lowe at klowe@leadingageohio.org who will coordinate connections between members.
LeadingAge is developing essential guidance and tools related to COVID-19 and curating the most relevant resources for aging services providers.
Take a look at some new resources from LeadingAge:
Director of Health Dr. Amy Acton confirmed 867 positive COVID-19 cases statewide, resulting in 223 hospitalizations in 60 counties. To date, 11% have required intensive care and there have been 15 deaths. Acton shared that the age range in ICU is 23 to 92. Over 17,000 Ohioans have been tested for COVID-19.
17% of cases have been healthcare workers, and Acton noted that one northwest Ohio health department had exposure and had multiple staff under quarantine. She said that part of the planning underway is to create redundancy in staffing in order to ensure back-up functioning for our healthcare system.
Acton showed modeling of Ohio’s projected surge, and stated that projections demonstrate that the dramatic actions taken have led to a 50 to 75% decreased impact on the healthcare system. She stressed that the more we delay the surge, the more likely we can acquire equipment, develop treatments, and put the state in a better place to respond.
Acton shared that projected PPE needs would have required 65 times typical usage rates, but with conservation techniques, Ohio’s needs will now be only 40 times normal usage. COVID-19 hospitalizations can last up to 20 days, not necessarily the short time frame that many hospitals are accustomed to.
In responding to questions related to the Miami County assisted living cluster, she noted that Director Corcoran has been working to prepare nursing homes with protocols to address active COVID-19 infections, and discussed how to determine transfers to hospitals. LeadingAge Ohio staff and several LeadingAge Ohio member representatives have been engaged in these discussions.
Please send all questions to COVID19@leadingageohio.org. Additionally, members are encouraged to visit the LeadingAge Ohio COVID-19 Working Group Facebook Group to pose questions to peers and share best practices.