Category: Long Term Care Blog

Statewide Project to Test Wastewater for COVID Virus – Recruitment of 20 Long-Term Care Communities

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Since May 2020, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and researchers at the University of Missouri – Columbia have been collaborating on a statewide project to test wastewater for genetic markers of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The project recently received new funding through a grant from National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand wastewater testing to additional congregate living facilities. Public health experts have identified wastewater testing as a useful tool for early detection of outbreaks, even as vaccination efforts progress and clinical testing improves. Please see the letter regarding information about this project and information on recruiting 20 congregate living communities to participate in an expansion of this testing. Ideally, communities would have 50 or more residents who contribute to the sewer system.

Please contact the Department of Health and Senior Services Environmental Public Health Tracking Team at EPHTN@health.mo.gov or 866-628-9891 or 573-751-6102 to express interest in the project or to ask any additional questions. Communities who are interested will receive a follow-up contact from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to determine if their sewer system will work for this type of testing.

Pioneer Network: Hot Topics – Culture Change in Action

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January 21, 2021: Working Together to Find Our Way to Yes

How many times have you or your team had a great idea about how to do something in your community, and you want to say ‘yes’, but are stopped short because it might be too risky, or the biggest reason heard, that the regulations say you can’t do it.

Even as we say this, we know that person-centered practices and the regulations are not at odds. Sometimes it’s the interpretation, or more often, it’s not WHAT we do, but HOW we do it that creates the conflict.

Pioneer Network is proud to bring together a dynamic panel of individuals from the field of aging services – all of them risk-takers at heart – to share and discuss ideas on how we can work together to find a way to say yes to the person-centered practices we strive to bring to our communities.

Standing Order to Administer BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Test By Licensed Long-Term Care Facilities

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Dr. Randall Williams has signed a standing order for Long-Term Care Facility staff to receive Abbott BinaxNow testing at the facility they work in to ensure timely testing and isolation of positive employees who are caring for Missouri’s most vulnerable residents, the elderly and disabled. Long-term care facilities should continue to obtain orders for residents through resident personal physicians or facility medical director/physician.

Standing Order – BinaxNOW – LTCF – Symptomatic or Asymptomatic 1-12-21

COVID-19 Healthcare Quality and Worker Safety Information

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Please find this week’s review of CDC’s COVID-19 resources and information. We continue to highlight COVID-19 vaccine information in addition to resources specific to healthcare quality and worker safety and health.

COVID-19 VACCINE RESOURCES
CDC COVID Data Tracker — Vaccinations are now being tracked on CDC’s COVID Data Tracker. Numbers reported on CDC’s website are validated through a submission process with each jurisdiction and may differ from numbers posted on other websites. Differences between reporting jurisdictions and CDC’s website may occur due to the timing of reporting and website updates.

How to Report COVID Vaccine-Related Adverse Events — As Americans start receiving their first COVID-19 vaccines, additional data on potential adverse events are needed in real time. Healthcare providers will play a critical role in reporting vaccine-related adverse events through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Providers can also encourage individual patients to self-report potential adverse events as they occur through v-safe, CDC’s new patient reporting platform. Read more in this new CDC Medscape Expert Commentary by Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Team Lead.

Updated Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States — This guidance has been updated to include the following:

  • Additional information on antibody therapies and COVID-19 vaccination
  • Information on COVID-19 vaccination and outbreak management
  • Additional information on vaccination of immunocompromised persons
  • Updates to contraindications and precautions to vaccination
  • Information on COVID-19 vaccination and tuberculin skin testing

To learn more, please visit: mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines.

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) — Making sure LTCF residents can receive COVID-19 vaccination as soon as vaccine is available will help save the lives of those who are most at risk of dying from COVID-19. CDC updates frequently asked questions for Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare Professionals regularly based on feedback from professionals on the ground.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
US COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants — The cases identified are based on a sampling of SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens and do not represent the total number of B.1.1.7 lineage cases that may be circulating in the United States and may not match numbers reported by states, territories, tribes, and local officials.

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission from People Without COVID-19 Symptoms — Researchers used a model to assess the proportion of COVID-19 spread that likely occurs from infected people who do not have symptoms. They found that more than 50% of new COVID-19 infections were estimated to have come from people without symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands to slow the spread of COVID-19. Strategic testing of people who are not ill, such as those who have been exposed to COVID-19 or those with frequent contact with the public, can also reduce the spread of COVID-19 until safe and effective vaccines are widely available.

Summary for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE during Shortages — This quick reference summarizes CDC’s strategies to optimize personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies in healthcare settings and provides links to CDC’s full guidance documents on optimizing supplies which provide additional strategies and details.

Summary for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators during Shortages — This summary is intended to help healthcare facilities optimize supplies of disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirators when there is limited supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Updated People with Certain Medical Conditions — Revisions were made on December 23, 2020 to reflect recent data supporting increased risk of severe illness among persons with Down Syndrome from the virus that causes COVID-19. Revisions also include addition of sickle cell disease and chronic kidney disease to the conditions that might increase the risk of severe illness among children.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) — Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, December 14–23, 2020 — This report summarizes the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of people in the U.S. with anaphylaxis and non-anaphylaxis allergic reactions following administration of a first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine during December 14-23, 2020. Monitoring by the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System detected 21 cases of anaphylaxis after administration of a reported 1,893,360 first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (11.1 cases per million doses); 71% of these occurred within 15 minutes of vaccination. Post-event follow-up indicates that the patients experiencing anaphylaxis fully recovered following treatment. You can learn more here: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) — Rates of COVID-19 Among Residents and Staff Members in Nursing Homes — United States, May 25–November 22, 2020 — A federal mandate issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), required nursing homes to commence enrollment and routine reporting of COVID-19 cases among residents and staff members by May 25, 2020. This report uses the NHSN nursing home COVID-19 data reported during May 25–November 22, 2020, to describe COVID-19 rates among nursing home residents and staff members and compares these with rates in surrounding communities by corresponding U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) region. You can learn more here: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) — Assessment of Day-7 Postexposure Testing of Asymptomatic Contacts of COVID-19 Patients to Evaluate Early Release from Quarantine — Vermont, May–November 2020 — On May 8, 2020, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) issued a Health Update recommending shortening the duration of quarantine for persons exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Exposed persons who were in quarantine could be tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on or after quarantine day 7. Those who had remained asymptomatic throughout quarantine and who received a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result on or after day 7 could end quarantine. You can learn more here: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

UPCOMING CALLS/WEBINARS
COVID-19 Partner Update Call: CDC COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Guidance and Tools – Thursday, January 21, 2021, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) — Dr. Cliff McDonald, Acting Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Melanie Taylor, Deputy, COVID-19 Contact Tracing Innovations Support will present. Ms. Michelle Putnam, Deputy, Policy Unit Partnerships & Risk Management Team will moderate. Dr. McDonald will share updates on CDC’s COVID-19 response, including the latest scientific information and what everyone should know about protecting themselves and others. In addition, Dr. Taylor will provide an overview on contact tracing guidance and tools. All questions will be collected in advance of the webinar. Click here to register

The call will be recorded and posted with previous Partner Update webinars here.

Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) – Treating Long-COVID: Clinician Experience with Post-Acute COVID-19 Care — The Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) will hold a call Thursday, January 28, 2021, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). During this COCA Call, presenters will share their firsthand experiences with treating long COVID, focusing on the pulmonary, neurologic, and psychological aspects. They will also describe their experiences with establishing clinics that provide care for patients with these long-term effects. For more information, please visit: COCA Calls/Webinars

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT — Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) – COVID-19 Vaccines: Update on Allergic Reactions, Contraindications, and Precautions — The Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) hosted a call Wednesday, December 30, 2020. During this COCA Call, presenters gave an overview of recommendations for use of COVID-19 vaccines in certain populations. Clinicians learned more about the recent reports of anaphylaxis following vaccination, as well as CDC’s updated clinical considerations around contraindications and precautions to vaccination. For the recording of this call, please visit: COCA Calls/Webinars

Abbott BinaxNOW Testing Supplies

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The federal government is sending Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen test kits to states for distribution. There is limited availability of these tests to Missouri Long Term Care Facilities (RCF, ALF, ICF, and SNF) and private Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-IID) with a CLIA certificate.

Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will distribute available tests to LTCFs for use. Because there are a limited number of tests available, these tests are best suited for use with patients or staff who are symptomatic and who may have had a credible exposure to COVID-19.

Demand will be high and so we ask homes to only request what they will need for a 45 day timeframe- that is not covered by other testing capacities. Our understanding is that federal shipments will begin again next week in counties with high positivity rates. This effort is to supplement existing testing capacity- not to replace it.

APPLICATIONS FOR TEST KITS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 22, 2021 at this link: https://arcg.is/1XvLeP.

COVID-19 Vaccine, TB testing, and Co-administration with other Vaccines

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We have received a couple emails regarding this, so passing along CDC guidelines on receiving COVID vaccine after/before flu vaccines, TB testing, etc.:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html

Interpretation of tuberculosis test results in vaccinated persons

Inactive vaccines do not interfere with tuberculosis (TB) test results. There is no immunologic reason to believe either a Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) (administered by intradermal placement of 0.1 cc of purified protein derivative) or blood draw for interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) would affect the safety or effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. We have no data to inform the impact of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines on either TB test for infection (i.e., TST or IGRA).

For healthcare personnel or patients who require baseline TB testing (at onboarding or entry into facilities) at the same time they are to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine:

  • Perform TB symptom screening on all healthcare personnel or patients.
  • If utilizing the IGRA, draw blood for interferon gamma release assay prior to COVID-19 vaccination.
  • If utilizing the TST, place prior to COVID-19 vaccination.
  • If vaccination has been given and testing needs to be performed, defer TST or IGRA until 4 weeks after COVID-19 vaccine 2-dose completion.
    • All potential recipients of COVID-19 vaccination should weigh the risks and benefits of delaying TST/IGRA with their providers.

If a facility has a concern regarding delaying the TST or IGRA, because of vaccination- then they can rely on the state waivers currently in place to delay the TB test, if necessary.

Another question we have received has been regarding CDC guidance related to co-administration with other vaccines.

Coadministration with other vaccines

Given the lack of data on the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines administered simultaneously with other vaccines, the vaccine series should routinely be administered alone, with a minimum interval of 14 days before or after administration with any other vaccine. However, mRNA COVID-19 and other vaccines may be administered within a shorter period in situations where the benefits of vaccination are deemed to outweigh the potential unknown risks of vaccine coadministration (e.g., tetanus toxoid-containing vaccination as part of wound management, measles or hepatitis A vaccination during an outbreak) or to avoid barriers or delays to mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (e.g., in long-term care facility residents or healthcare personnel who received influenza or other vaccinations prior to/upon admission or onboarding). If mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are administered within 14 days of another vaccine, doses do not need to be repeated for either vaccine.

COVID Vaccinations and Infection Control

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SLCR has received many questions regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and the impact those vaccinations will have on infection control guidelines. At this time, there are still many questions unanswered regarding vaccination that make infection control changes uncertain right now. Current CDC can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/toolkits/long-term-care/index.html.

Vaccination is one important tool (not the only) in our tool belt to address COVID-19 infections. Vaccinating healthcare personnel and residents is essential to helping prevent individuals (who may not be able to recover) from getting COVID-19. For long-term care facilities, vaccinations are vital to protecting healthcare capacity. Staff who are sick cannot work and provide the necessary case and services to residents to ensure their health and safety.

The toolkit includes some helpful information for staff and residents/loved ones regarding the vaccine as well.

LTCF Staff pdf
LTCF Residents & Loved Ones pdf

CMS Memo: QSO 20-31-ALL: Revised COVID-19 Survey Activities, CARES Act Funding, Enhanced Enforcement for Infection Control deficiencies, and Quality Improvement Activities in Nursing Homes

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CMS has revised the criteria requiring states to conduct focused infection control surveys due to the increased availability of resources for the testing of residents and staff and factors related to the quality of care. In addition, CMS has provided Frequently Asked Questions related to health, emergency preparedness and life-safety code surveys.

See the memo for details.

COVID-19 Vaccine Safety: A Fireside Chat with CMS, CDC, and front line staff and providers 

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COVID-19 Vaccine Safety: A Fireside Chat with CMS, CDC, and front line staff and providers
Wednesday, 6, 2021, at 3:00 pm (Central Time)

Join The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a fireside chat on vaccine safety. This is the second discussion in a special series, a part of the CMS National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call Series, aimed at addressing staff questions and concerns about the new COVID-19 vaccines. Each session will be moderated by CMS with speakers from CDC and representatives of front line staff and providers.

This chat will continue to address myths surrounding vaccine danger with the following panelist:

  • Dr. Lee Fleisher, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CMS)
  • Dr. Amanda Cohn, Chief Medical Officer (Acting), Office of Vaccine Policy, Preparedness, and Global Health, Office of the Director (CDC)
  • Cassandra Lowe, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Preparing for the call:

Target Audience: Nursing Home Frontline staff, Chief Nursing Officers

Register in advance for this webinar (After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar): https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_VQnfc77zTaOho3-yYrtGUAA

Monoclonal ECHO Mini-Series

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This series will provide a deep dive on new and emerging COVID-19 outpatient therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies. The goal of this mini-series is to equip clinicians with the appropriate knowledge, resources, and tools needed to initiate and scale administration of these therapies and reduce strain on the U.S. healthcare system.

Registration is at https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/institute-programs/covid-19-response/us-covid19/hhs-aspr/miniseries.html.

The upcoming event on January 6, 2021 will discuss the recent and very successful experience with MABs in the State of Michigan.

Free COVID-19 Testing Opportunities Available Throughout Missouri

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Date

Times

City

County

Location

Jan. 4, 2021

12PM – 4PM

Tarkio

Atchison

Tarkio United Methodist Church

Jan. 4, 2021

9AM – 4PM

St. Louis

St. Louis City

CareSTL Health

Jan. 4, 2021

10AM – 4PM

Potosi

Washington

Great Mines Health Center

Jan. 4, 2021

9AM – 3PM

Kansas City

Jackson

Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center

Jan. 5, 2021

10AM – 4PM

Farmington

St. Francois

Christian Life Church

Jan. 5, 2021

1PM – 6PM

Warsaw

Benton

Katy Trail Clinic Parking Lot

Jan. 5, 2021

12PM – 3PM

St. Louis

St. Louis City

Affinia Healthcare

Jan. 6, 2021

1PM – 6PM

Camdenton

Camden

Central Ozarks Medical Center

Jan. 6, 2021

9AM – 6PM

Kansas City

Clay

Worlds of Fun

Jan. 6, 2021

10AM – 5PM

Ste. Genevieve

Ste. Genevieve

Civic Center

Jan. 7, 2021

12PM – 3PM

St. Louis

St. Louis City

Affinia Healthcare

Jan. 7, 2021

1PM – 7PM

Warrensburg

Johnson

Johnson County Fairgrounds

Jan. 7, 2021

12PM – 4PM

Mound City

Holt

Northwest Health Services – Mound City Clinic

Jan. 7, 2021

9AM – 4PM

Kansas City

Jackson

Kansas City Zoo (Cheetah Parking Lot)

Jan. 8, 2021

12PM – 4PM

Maryville

Nodaway

National Guard Armory

Jan. 8, 2021

9AM – 4PM

St. Louis

St. Louis City

CareSTL Health

Jan. 8, 2021

10AM – 1PM

Osceola

St. Clair

Clearview Care Center

Jan. 8, 2021

9AM – 4PM

Kansas City

Jackson

Kansas City Zoo (Cheetah Parking Lot)

Jan. 9, 2021

9AM – 6PM

Cassville

Barry

ACCESS Family Care

Jan. 11, 2021

12PM – 4PM

Grant City

Worth

Worth County High School

Jan. 11, 2021

9AM – 4PM

St. Louis

St. Louis City

CareSTL Health

Jan. 11, 2021

9AM – 3PM

Kansas city

Jackson

Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center

Jan. 12, 2021

12PM – 3PM

St. Louis

St. Louis City

Affinia Healthcare

Jan. 12, 2021

10AM – 5PM

Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau

Agricultural Barn

Jan. 13, 2021

9AM – 6PM

Kansas City

Clay

Worlds of Fun

Jan. 13, 2021

11AM – 2PM

Kimberling City

Stone

First Baptist Church Ministry Center

Jan. 14, 2021

12PM – 3PM

St. Louis

St. Louis City

Affinia Healthcare

Jan. 14, 2021

12PM – 4PM

Stanberry

Gentry

Stanberry City Hall

Jan. 14, 2021

9AM – 5PM

Hermitage

Hickory

Ozarks Community Health Center

Jan. 14, 2021

9AM – 4PM

Kansas City

Jackson

Kansas City Zoo (Cheetah Parking Lot)

Jan. 15, 2021

9AM – 4PM

Kansas City

Jackson

Kansas City Zoo (Cheetah Parking Lot)

Jan. 15, 2021

9AM – 4PM

St. Louis

St. Louis City

CareSTL Health

Submission Deadline for SNF COVID-19 Related Expenses – Extended through 12/30/20

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The submission deadline for SNF “other” necessary COVID 19 related expenditure invoices has been extended through 12/30/2020.  There has been no change testing invoices – the deadline for all facility types to send testing invoices to the state is still 12/30/2020.

Beginning December 18, 2020, the following will appear on the main web application page:

Important update: Please read!

All long term care facilities (SNF, RCF, ALF, ICF) have until 12/30 to submit “testing” invoices.

Skilled Nursing Facilities may resume submitting “other” necessary COVID-19 related expenditures until 12/30.

If you represent a SNF and you already submitted items that were not approved because you were over your allocated cost cap, please do not resubmit those items. Those are being re-reviewed at this time. Only submit new expenses since 12/01 and/or items not previously submitted.

In order to process all LTC invoices in a timely fashion and meet deadlines, it is imperative that facilities submit complete invoices with all the required information and documentation. This includes:

    • The federal tax ID number
    • Invoice to the State with a unique invoice number not already used
    • Invoice/bill from the vendor who provided services/supplies
    • Full address of the facility
    • Signatures on all forms requiring signature
    • Detailed explanation of how the expenditure is COVID-related
    • Signed attestation if one has not already been uploaded to the State

If required documentation is not submitted, your invoice may not be approved.

Virtual Job Fair–Job Seeker Recruitment

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Healthcare organizations across Missouri have immediate openings for caring and compassionate team members. Opportunities for advancement are available within the healthcare community and positions needed include:

  • Licensed Practical Nurses
  • Certified Nurse Assistants
  • Medical Technicians
  • Laboratory Technicians
  • In-Home Caregivers
  • Food Service Workers
  • Janitorial and more.

However, this is not an all-inclusive list. You can explore the many opportunities across Missouri by visiting https://showmestrong.mo.gov/health-hiring/.

Healthcare Industry Virtual Job Fair

In addition, you will find information about an upcoming virtual job fair focusing on all entry-level clinical and non-clinical positions within Missouri’s healthcare system. This Healthcare Industry Virtual Job Fair will take place on December 22 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and more than 180 employers have already reserved their virtual booths! As a job seeker you will be able to search job listings, meet with hiring companies in the health care sector, receive tips for resume writing and job interviews, and learn more about Missouri Job Center services and training opportunities.

You register for this virtual job fair in advance at https://returnstrongmo.easyvirtualfair.com as well as create a profile and upload your resume so employers can easily reach out after the event. Get started today – a new opportunity is around the corner!

Show Me Hope Offerings – Info for schools, new grief opportunities and Psychological First Aid Training

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There are several great opportunities coming up sponsored by DMH Disaster Services and/or the Show Me Hope Crisis Counseling Program. Please feel free to share all of these broadly.

  1. Show Me Hope is partnering to spread awareness with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education & Alive and Well Communities. Helping Schools Heal During COVID-19 is a Facebook Live event on Monday, 12/21 from 6-7:30PM featuring our very own Rachel Jones! https://www.facebook.com/events/678898359472752/
  2. As part of the Show Me Hope Crisis Counseling Program, ReDiscover will be starting a statewide, virtual group around Grief.  This Grief group will be open to anyone who has experienced grief and loss due to COVID. This will be a 6-week group that runs on Tuesday’s from 4:30 to 5:30 PM (starting in January). The registration and additional information can be found in the offerings flyer.
  3. A virtual Psychological First Aid Training will be held in February. Trainers: Beckie Gierer and Eric Evans. Registration information attached.

Free COVID-19 Testing Opportunities

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Community testing events serve the residents of Missouri. DHSS is partnering with the Missouri Community Health Centers and MAKO Medical Laboratories to offer these free testing events. There is no eligibility other than to have a Missouri address. If you do not see any community testing events in your area, you can continue to check back with this page as new sites will be added as events are planned.

The test is a PCR test done by an anterior nares or midnasal swab to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This is not an antigen or antibody test.

Registration Strongly Recommended:

Please register for an event by clicking on the registration link associated with each event. If you need assistance, you may call 919-351-MAKO (6256). Please double-check the spelling of your name and your date of birth. This information must be exactly correct to receive your results. Upon completing the registration, you will receive an email with your QR Code and booking ID number. Show this QR Code and booking ID number to the site attendant in order to proceed with your test.

Please allow at least 30 minutes for completion of testing upon arrival to the testing site. Delays may occur in the event of inclement weather. Walk-ins to the event without prior registration cannot be guaranteed a test.

Date

Times

City

County

Location

December 23, 2020

9AM – 6PM

Kansas city

Clay County

Worlds of Fun

December 28, 2020

9AM – Noon
1PM- 4PM

St. Louis

St. Louis County

CareSTL

December 29, 2020

Noon – 3PM

St. Louis

St. Louis County

Affinia

December 30, 2020

9AM – 6PM

Kansas city

Clay County

Worlds of Fun

December 31, 2020

11AM – 2PM

St. Louis

St. Louis County

Affinia

January 4, 2021

10AM – 4PM

Potosi

Washington

Great Mines Health Center

January 5, 2021

10AM – 4PM

Farmington

St. Francois

Christian Life Church

January 5, 2021

1PM – 6PM

Warsaw

Benton

Katy Trail Clinic

January 6, 2021

1PM – 6PM

Camdenton

Camden

Central Ozarks Medical Center

January 7, 2021

1PM – 7PM

Warrensburg

Johnson

Johnson County Fairgrounds

January 13, 2021

11AM-2PM

Kimberling City

Stone

First Baptist Church

January 14, 2021

9AM – 5PM

Hermitage

Hickory

Ozarks Community Health Center

More information regarding COVID-19 in Missouri can be found at health.mo.gov/coronavirus.

CDC COCA Call: Making Practical Decisions for Crisis Standards of Care at the Bedside During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Date: Thursday, December 17, 2020
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (ET)

A few minutes before the webinar starts, please click on the Zoom link below to join:

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1613403966

Healthcare operations and healthcare services delivery change due to scarcity of required resources under pervasive (e.g., pandemic influence, COVID-19) and catastrophic disaster (e.g., earthquake, hurricane) conditions. The standards of care proposed under these unique and challenging conditions must be a reasonable approach to healthcare service delivery that merges public health, ethical, and medical care demands.

During this COCA Call, experts from Hennepin Healthcare and Bellevue Hospital will present background on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) framework, Guidance for Establishing Crisis Standards of Care for Use in Disaster Situations (IOM, 2009), and identify how Crisis Standards of Care apply to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Presenters will also highlight systems-level information sharing and coalition-level coordination activities to help clinicians plan for these potential situations and make medical decision during a crisis.

If you are unable to attend the live COCA Call, the recording will be available for viewing on the COCA Call webpage a few hours after the live event ends.

CMS QSO Memo 21-06-NH

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to being transparent with the public about changes in publicly reported information related to long-term care facilities (i.e., nursing homes) through the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).

Changes to the Nursing Home Compare Website and Five Star Quality Rating System:

  • CMS will resume calculating nursing homes Health Inspection and Quality Measure ratings on January 27, 2021.
  • CMS is completing its transition to the new Care Compare website.

Please see the full memo for details.

Federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program – IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM CVS AND WALGREENS

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For those communities that chose CVS or Walgreens for the Federal Pharmacy Partnership for COVID-19 Vaccine Program, CVS and Walgreens have started communicating with communities about the program. The information from both pharmacies can be found below. It is imperative that you follow the guidance and direction from CVS or Walgreens when your community receives this information. This will be key to your vaccination clinics running smoothly.

CVS

Walgreens COVID19 Vaccine – What To Expect Guide
Walgreens Facility Tip Sheet
Walgreens LTCF Welcome Email Body

If you have not been contacted, communication will likely continue over the next week. If your facility DID indicate CVS or Walgreens but have not heard from them yet, they you should go to the CVS or Walgreens website and fill out the contact information for your facility. CVS and Walgreens are still working through contacting all the communities assigned to them.

Please make sure the point of contact listed when you registered for the vaccine program is aware the call and/or email from the pharmacies will be coming.  Also, please continue to check your junk or spam folders if you have not been contacted by a pharmacy.

Information regarding this program is developing rapidly.  Please watch for further messages as information is available.

Healthcare Team Member Recruitment and Job Fair

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flyer

 

We are all aware of the dire need to recruit new team members into our healthcare system. As a result, healthcare organizations across Missouri have joined together and are conducting a statewide recruitment campaign. The flyer above will be used to attract job seekers and explain our needs while also directing them to https://showmestrong.mo.gov/health-hiring/, an on-line resource of job board sites used by many of our healthcare providers. You are encouraged to participate by posting your positions on the job board platforms that best fit your organization. In addition, a recruitment campaign is being conducted for the month of December, referring job seekers to the newly created website.

There will also be a healthcare specific job fair focusing on entry-level clinical and non-clinical positions to connect with Missouri’s job seekers across the state. The virtual job fair will take place on December 22nd, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Participate in this fair by completing the Employer Registration form before December 16th. Employer registration is best used with Google Chrome. Click on “Register Now” and be sure to select the “Dec 22nd-Healthcare Industry Fair.”

These virtual job fairs are more than just a place to post your open positions. You’ll be able to meet job candidates through an online text to chat, share information about your organization, and review resumes through our virtual fair platform. List your open positions and get access to a list of job seekers interested in your company after each event.

This upcoming job fair presents a great opportunity not only to meet and interview interested job seekers, but also to strengthen the state’s economy and help us get Missourians back to work to support our in-demand healthcare industry.

All healthcare industry employers are invited to participate!

Infection Control Assessment and Response Project

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INFECTION CONTROL ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE PROJECT: A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES AND THE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR MISSOURI NURSING HOMES

The Quality Improvement Program for Missouri’s Nursing Homes (QIPMO) is partnering with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) in response to the novel Coronavirus known as COVID-19. In doing so, QIPMO has formed a new Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) team with a primary goal of assisting Missouri Long-Term Care Facilities to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases.

See the New Release for more information.

Free COVID-19 Testing Opportunities Available Throughout Missouri

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The State of Missouri continues to host community testing events throughout the state each week.

Missourians can register for these events currently scheduled at health.mo.gov/communitytest and also continue to check back for future opportunities to be tested at an event nearby.

Missouri residency is the only requirement; individuals do not have to live in the county in which they are tested, and they do not have to be experiencing symptoms. Any Missouri residents who wish to be tested with a self-administered nasal swab to determine if they have an active COVID-19 infection can do so at the specified sites in each region at no cost to the individual.

County

Location

City

Dates

Times

Greene

Ozark Empire Fairgrounds

Springfield

December 3-4

Dec. 3: 9AM – 7PM
Dec. 4: 7AM – 4PM

Gentry

Stanberry City Hall

Stanberry

December 4

11AM – 5PM

Jasper

Ozark Christian College

Joplin

December 5

10AM – 4PM

Buchanan

Aquatic Center

St. Joseph

December 5

8AM – 4PM

Webster

Webster County Fairgrounds

Marshfield

December 7

12PM – 6PM

Adair

NEMO Fairgrounds 4-H FFA Building

Kirksville

December 7

8AM – 3PM

Henry

Henry County Fairgrounds

Clinton

December 8

12PM – 6PM

Clark

Kahoka Christian Church

Kahoka

December 8

12PM – 6PM

Cooper

Cooper County Fairgrounds

Boonville

December 9

12PM – 6PM

Pike

Pike County Fairgrounds

Bowling Green

December 9

12PM – 6PM

Cole

American Legion

Jefferson City

December 10

10AM – 6PM

St. Charles

The Family Arena

St. Charles

December 10-11

Dec. 10: 10AM – 4PM
Dec. 11: 8AM – 4PM

Warren

Warren County Fairgrounds

Warrenton

December 11

12PM – 6PM

Jefferson

Hillsboro Civic Club

Hillsboro

December 12

9AM – 3PM

Perry

Perryville City Park

Perryville

December 12

11AM – 5PM

Ozark

Gainesville Saddle Club

Gainesville

December 14

10AM – 2PM

Platte

Platte County Resource Center

Kansas City

December 14-15

Dec. 14: 12PM – 6PM
Dec. 15: 10AM – 4PM

McDonald

First Baptist Church

Anderson

December 15

12PM – 5PM

Register for testing at:
www.health.mo.gov/communitytest
or call (877) 435-8411

 

Surge Testing

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has also announced free COVID-19 surge testing that will continue each week in the following:

Columbia (Mondays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Branson (Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
St. Louis (Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Cape Girardeau (Thursdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.)
Lee’s Summit (Thursdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Testing at these locations is available to individuals 5 years and older – including those experiencing symptoms; those who believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 coronavirus; and anyone who is worried about possibly having the virus. Individuals seeking testing do not need to be a resident of the community where these testing sites are located. Individuals under 18 years old must have a parent or legal guardian present to consent to testing.

Testing is expected to continue at the following locations for the remainder of this year. Individuals are encouraged to pre-register online at DoINeedaCovid19Test.com.

More information regarding COVID-19 in Missouri can be found at health.mo.gov/coronavirus.