Infection Control

ICYMI: Important Upcoming Enhanced Barrier Precautions Educational Opportunities

In last week’s Care Connection, we advised of an upcoming CDC Townhall webinar on Enhanced Barrier Precautions to take place on Wednesday May 22nd at noon central time. In addition, our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, will be hosting CDC representatives for additional education and discussion on Wednesday, June 5th at 1:00 Central. Read More

ICYMI: From AHCA/NCAL: Important clarification to recent CDC updated respiratory guidance: Does not apply to nursing facilities settings but does apply to assisted living settings

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) issued updated guidance for respiratory viruses in community settings. The CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance is intended for a general audience and community settings, including assisted living communities. It does not apply to health care settings, including nursing homes. Read More

DHS Offering at No Cost COVID Surplus Items

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is inviting health care organizations, including skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, to complete a survey to request no-cost surplus supplies from the DHS warehouse.  The DHS notice is set forth below in its entirety including the link to the survey.   Response deadline is Monday, November 13th at 4:00 pm Central Time. Read More

COVID-19 cases on the rise – Ensuring access to anti-viral medications

As members may have read and/or experienced, COVID cases are on the rise around the country.  Given this concerning information, we followed up with the Department of Health Services, COVID-19 Therapeutics Team to confirm the process for obtaining Paxlovid and other anti-virals and to ensure that there was amply supply within Wisconsin.  The Therapeutics Team has replied to Rick Abrams, WHCA/WiCAL CEO. Read More

Research Participation Opportunity for South Central Wisconsin Nursing Facilities

The Crnich Research Team at the University of Wisconsin – Madison is looking to partner with skilled nursing facilities on an infectious disease study that currently studies how COVID-19 spreads within nursing homes and will eventually focus on other types of transmissible respiratory infections like influenza and RSV.  They are looking for interested facilities within a 60-minute drive from Madison. Nursing homes that choose to participate will receive a modest contribution to the facility education/development fund. Read More

Supply Chain Sources for COVID Testing Supplies and NHSN Reporting Post Public Health Emergency

Wisconsin’s Quality Improvement Organization, Superior Health Quality Alliance/Metastar, continues to be a valuable and free resource to members. Superior will be offering a series of “office hour” sessions focused on National Health Safety Network (NHSN) reporting post-Public Health Emergency. Additionally, Navigator can be a partner to supply you with COVID testing and related supplies. Read More

Masking Resource: Post-COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Effective May 11, 2023, the federal COVID-19 public health emergency ended. The use of source control (masking) is no longer tied to community transmission levels. To help clarify when source control is appropriate in health care settings, Superior Health Quality Alliance developed this Source Control Assessment: Guide for Mask Use in Health Care Settings. Your health care setting can use this resource when making decisions about source control for residents, patients, visitors and health care workers. Read More

CMS Issues New QSO Memo on Enhanced Enforcement for Infection Control Deficiencies

On March 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rescinded previous guidance and released QSO Memo QSO-23-10-NH, which updates the enhanced enforcement policy for infection control deficiencies, which was implemented early in the pandemic. This update is related to changes that have occurred throughout the pandemic, including an interim final rule that established long term care facility vaccine immunization requirements, CMS noted the need to continue to evaluate guidance. Read More

Low Staffing and Poor Infection Control May Contribute to Allegations of Fraudulent Reimbursement

The challenges of maintaining sufficient staff and implementing effective infection control measures has impacted the entire nursing home industry. Compounding the penalties faced by facilities for negative survey findings in this area, the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently sued an Ohio-based nursing home for fraud and alleged, among other things, that it provided substandard care tied to low staffing and poor infection control. Read More