Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Recall Alert

To:         Local Public Health Agencies
From:    Dusty Johnson
Date:     07/06/2021

CLASS:  Class I High Priority

This announcement is distributed to Environmental staff and LPHA Administrators.

  • Please notify the affected facilities in your jurisdiction ASAP.
  • Conduct follow-up checks within 2 working days.
  • See attached distribution information.
  • See the original announcement for examples of labels.

 Necessary Information:

 Tyson Foods Inc., a Dexter, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen, fully cooked chicken products were produced between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021. The products that are subject to recall are listed here. View the labels here.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-7089” on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations.

On June 9, 2021, FSIS was notified of two persons ill with listeriosis. Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners, FSIS determined there is evidence linking the Listeria monocytogenes illnesses to precooked chicken produced at Tyson Foods Inc. The epidemiologic investigation identified three listeriosis illnesses, including one death, between April 6, 2021 and June 5, 2021. During routine sample collection, FSIS collected two precooked chicken samples from two establishments that are closely related genetically to Listeria monocytogenes from ill people. One of the samples was collected at Tyson Foods Inc. FSIS is continuing to work with federal and state public health partners to determine if there are additional illnesses linked to these products.

Additional information on the investigation may be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumer and institutional freezers. Consumers should not eat these products. Institutions should not serve these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Members of the media who have questions regarding the recall can contact Derek Burleson, Communications Manager, Tyson Foods, at (479) 290-6466 or derek.burleson@tyson.com. Consumers who have questions can contact Tyson Foods customer relations, at (855) 382-3101.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

 Additional Information:

We have received questions regarding when communication with Engineering Consultation Unit (ECU) is needed. When completing any of the activities listed below, please reach out to the ECU for review.

  • Additions to existing licensed facilities or premises
  • Major remodeling
  • Equipment replacement (mechanical, generator, fire alarm components)
  • Relocation of any resident use areas (physical therapy, dining rooms, conversion of rooms to resident bedrooms)
  • Creation of designated units (memory care units and special care units)
  • Removal or construction of ANY walls, doors, and ceilings – even if not located in a rated wall
  • Changing the use of existing rooms
  • Exterior changes to the building that include addition of structures (canopy, gazebo, trellis), site work such as sidewalk revisions at exit paths and lighting
  • Adding locking hardware to exit doors including interior and exterior doors
  • Roof replacement
  • Some interior finish work such as flooring and wallcovering may need to be reviewed to determine the fire rating classification.

When is ECU approval not required?

  • Interior finish work (painting, flooring, ceiling tiles)

ECU does not charge any fees to review projects.
If uncertain whether a review is needed, please contact the ECU at ECU@health.mo.gov.
Please retain all ECU correspondence with other facility records.

David East and Carrie (Brixey) Schaumburg
ECU@health.mo.gov

Below is the DHSS Health Advisory, dated 06/30/2021, entitled, “National Pause for the Distribution and Utilization of Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate COVID-19” Should you have any questions, please contact the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at 573-751-6113.

06.30.21 DHSS HA – National Pause fo

Of special note, because of the increase in cases in the Southwest region, there will be one additional testing day this week and one next week, Friday, July 2 in Joplin, and Tuesday, July 6 in Wright County– see below.

Testing remains a very important tool in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is now offering two options for FREE COVID-19 testing.

First, there are in-person testing events hosted around the state. Individuals are not required to pre-register or have an appointment, simply show up to one of the events below to receive the test. A government issued ID is not a requirement for this testing, but having one available onsite speeds up the registration process. Additional testing sites (with regular or one-time opportunities) may be added as indicators suggest the need for additional testing. The following events listed below are scheduled as of today. The latest information can always be found at www.health.mo.gov/communitytest.

Second, Missouri residents may order a free test to be mailed to their Missouri address. These are PCR kits that are designed for self-collection with a return FedEx shipping container. Once received back by the laboratory, the result is returned to the person tested (via email provided) within 48 hours. More information about the at home self-collection kits and a link to order are also found at www.health.mo.gov/communitytest.

In-person Testing Events Scheduled as of June 29, 2021:

St. Louis Area

    • Every Monday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      IBEW Local #1
      5850 Elizabeth Avenue
      St. Louis, MO 63110
    • Every Tuesday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      “Legacy Bar & Café”
      Delmar Plaza
      5261 Delmar Blvd
      St. Louis, MO 63108
    • Every Thursday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      Laborers Local #110
      4532 S Lindbergh Blvd
      St. Louis, MO 63127
    • Every Saturday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      Machinist Lodge #777
      12365 St Charles Rock Rd
      Bridgeton, MO 63044

Central Area

    • Sunday (dates below)
      11:00 am – 7:00 pm

      July 18
      August 8, 22
      September 12, 26
      American Legion #1423
      Tanner Bridge Road
      Jefferson City, MO 65101

Southwest Area

    • Tuesday – July 6
      9:00 am – 5:00 pm
      Wright County Health Department Annex
      602 East State Street, Suite B
      Mountain Grove, MO 65711
    • Every Tuesday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      Mother’s Brewing Company
      Open Lot located on the corner of West College and Grant Avenue
      Springfield, MO
    • Wednesday (dates below)
      9:00 am – 4:30 pm

      June 30
      Webster County Health Unit
      233 E. Washington Street
      Marshfield, MO 65706
    • Friday – July 2
      11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      “The Roxy” Parking Lot
      108 N. Joplin
      Joplin, MO 64801
    • Every Friday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
      4100 Gretna Rd
      Branson, MO 65616

Kansas City Area

    • Every Monday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      Heavy Construction Laborers, Local #663
      7820 Prospect
      Kansas City, MO 64132
    • Every Thursday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      Heavy Construction Laborers, Local #663
      7820 Prospect
      Kansas City, MO 64132
    • Every Saturday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
      Teamsters Local #955
      4501 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd
      Kansas City, MO 64130

Southeast Area

    • Sunday (dates below)
      11:00 am – 7:00 pm

      July 11, 25
      August 1, 15
      Red Show Barn
      410 Kiwanis Drive
      Cape Girardeau MO 63701

Community Corps Members:

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, staff in nursing homes have been providing ongoing care to our nation’s most vulnerable. It’s on trusted messengers like you to make sure we’re reaching people who need to be protected from the COVID-19 virus.

Building vaccine confidence among Long-Term Care Facility staff and residents is important. That’s why we wanted to pass along useful data, materials, and resources to be able to guide conversations, answer questions, and help get people vaccinated.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Resources:

Keeping our communities safe has never been more critical. Thanks for all you do.
The HHS COVID-19 Community Corps Team

We are currently in the planning phase to host a virtual provider meeting this year and are considering the best topics to provide the most beneficial information. We would like to hear from you about what LTC related topics and info you believe would be helpful and educational!

Please take a moment to answer complete a short questionnaire by July 15, 2021 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/83YX6GZ.

Creative writing and artistic expression are meaningful and compelling ways to highlight the importance of residents’ rights and how these rights can be carried out in all long-term care settings.

Residents of long-term care facilities are invited to get creative by participating in this year’s Resident’s Voice Challenge. The Resident’s Voice Challenge is an opportunity for long-term care consumers to respond to and reflect on this year’s Residents’ Rights Month theme – Reclaiming My Rights, My Home, My Life.

Find other resources for promoting Residents’ Rights Month.

How to Participate: Artwork Contest

This year’s theme emphasizes that the long-term care facility is the residents’ home. As part of the Resident’s Voice Challenge, we will be selecting original resident artwork to be featured on door hangers. These door hangers will serve as a reminder for anyone who visits that this is a home.

  • Residents are invited to create a piece of art that reflects what home means to them or how they make their space feel like home.
  • We will select one or more pieces of resident artwork to be featured on the Consumer Voice website and on door hangers available in the Consumer Voice online store.
  • Residents will be notified if their artwork has been selected. Residents whose artwork is selected will receive complimentary door hangers.

Alternatively, residents can respond to the Resident’s Voice Challenge in writing, audio, or via video by answering one or more of the following questions:

  • What did you miss most during the pandemic? What is your life like now as a long-term care resident?
  • What are you looking forward to most in the next year (doing an activity, seeing a loved one, etc.)?
  • What does home mean to you? How do you make where you live feel like home?
  • What can your facility staff do to help make your residence a home?

Possible entries include: Video or audio recordings, poems, essays, word collages, songs, artwork or drawings, or photos. Get creative!

Each participant featured in a photo or video must fill out a release form.

Find out how to submit entries.
Read full Resident’s Challenge guidelines here.

 Entries are due September 1, 2021.

Professional Education Series 2021

June 29, 2021: Abuse in the Workplace: Identifying and Rectifying Abuse Towards Residents
Speaker: Robin Pendleton, Senior Staff Development Training Specialist for Adult Protective Services

Abuse and neglect in long-term care settings is an ongoing topic of concern amongst LTC professionals and advocates. Those on the front lines of care are, arguably, the best people to fight elder abuse and neglect in their communities. Learn how to identify abuse and neglect at the hands of family or caregivers. Further, learn what steps to take to protect residents – and yourself- when a coworker is a perpetrator.

July 27, 2021: How to Invest Strategically in Technology for your Long-Term Care Organization
Speaker: Amber Bardon, CEO, Parasol Alliance

Now more than ever before having a comprehensive technology strategy in place is essential for long-term care providers to succeed. In this session, learn how to build a customized technology plan for your community. Walk through how to create an actionable technology roadmap designed to meet their community’s unique business objectives and review the must-have components for any effective technology plan related to resident care, workforce collaboration, and security.

August 24, 2021: Working with Challenging Residents
Speaker: Chien Y. Hung, MSW, MA-G, RYT, Program Director of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

Long-term care professionals will encounter individuals with a wide assortment of cultural beliefs and perceptions. Too many times, this creates situations that are deeply offensive to the caregiver. In a work setting, how can LTC professionals navigate “isms” (racism, sexism, etc.) directed at them by residents? How can you mitigate workplace toxicity and protect yourself against residents with this mindset?

The Department of Health and Senior Services, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation has drafted emergency and proposed amendments affecting the nursing assistant training program referenced in regulation sets 19 CSR 30-84.010 and 19 CSR 30-85.042.

The emergency amendment for 19 CSR 30-84.010 was filed on June 14, 2021, with an effective of June 28, 2021 and expiration of December 24, 2021. The emergency amendment can currently be viewed at: https://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/EmergenciesforInternet/emergency. The proposed amendment covering this same material will also be published in the same issue of the Missouri Register. The Register publication date is July 15, 2021 for the emergency and proposed amendments and can be found at: http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/moreg/moreg.asp.

NOTE: The public comment period for the proposed amendments will be from July 15, 2021 – August 14, 2021. The Department will be accepting comments during the comment period by mailing the comments to: Carmen Grover-Slattery, Regulation Unit Manager, Section for Long-Term Care Regulation, Division of Regulation and Licensure, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570 or by emailing to: RegulationUnit@health.mo.gov.

The emergency and proposed amendments can be reviewed on our website at: https://health.mo.gov/about/proposedrules/.

Missouri is experiencing a rise in individuals contracting the Delta variant (B.1.617.2, first detected in India) of the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2. It was announced by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention yesterday that the Delta variant has been reclassified as a “variant of concern” in the United States. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has been closely monitoring these developments and has been on the national leading edge of aggressive wastewater testing for variants of concern.

The Delta variant joins the B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), B.1.427/B.1.429 (Epsilon) variants circulating in the United States which are already classified as variants of concern.

Deemed highly transmissible, the Delta virus has been already detected in over 70 countries of the world, and is projected to become dominant worldwide. It is also causing more serious illness and hospitalizations among those who have not been vaccinated.

Monitoring the spread of emerging variants in the United States relies on widespread, rapid sequencing. While this national effort is still somewhat limited, it is clear that the variant has become prevalent in communities throughout Missouri. In February, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) began testing wastewater samples to look for the presence of these variants. These testing results are displayed in a new layer of the COVID-19 sewershed surveillance StoryMap.

The unpredictability of emerging variants is cause for continuation of infection prevention precautions.

“Our greatest concern in Missouri is areas with lower vaccine uptake,” said Robert Knodell, Acting Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). “With this variant being easier to spread and possibly causing more severe illnesses among unvaccinated people of all ages, vaccinations are the best way to stop this virus in its tracks.”

This recent rise of the highly transmissible Delta variant underscores the importance of continued testing for COVID-19 of all those with related symptoms, as well as those who have been exposed to the virus but may not have symptoms.

Social distancing and appropriate masking remain important and effective public health countermeasures. Vaccination is the most effective and long-lasting tool for protection from this infection. DHSS continues to encourage anyone age 12 and up to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines and where to get vaccinated at MOStopsCovid.com.

The Health Education Unit is excited to announce our new changes to the CNA Rules – COMING SOON!

Along with the new implementation of the new CNA testing process, our rules are being updated and include proposed changes to the curriculum, reciprocity for out of state CNA’s coming to work in Missouri, and the requirement for our instructors to attend a four-hour update training every five years, as well as several others.

We invite you to attend one of our Q and A sessions to learn more about these changes. Our third party test administrator, Headmaster, will also join and be available to answer questions. Please access our website at https://health.mo.gov/safety/cnaregistry/ for log in information.

The scheduled dates and times are listed below:

June 16, 2021: DHSS/D & SDT Headmaster Q & A Webex Meeting
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Meeting number (access code): 177 675 4909 Meeting password: urUBZCPC265

Join from a video system or application
Dial 1776754909@stateofmo.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number. Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-650-479-3207, 1776754909## Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110, 1776754909## United States Toll (Chicago)

Join by phone
1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Chicago)
Global call-in numbers

June 22, 2021: DHSS/D & SDT Headmaster Q & A Webex Meeting
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Meeting number (access code): 177 961 7383 Meeting password: VHvmrBY3Z83

Join from a video system or application
Dial 1779617383@stateofmo.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number. Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-650-479-3207, 1779617383## Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110, 1779617383## United States Toll (Chicago)

Join by phone
1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Chicago)
Global call-in numbers

June 30, 2021: DHSS/D & SDT Headmaster Q & A Webex Meeting
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Meeting number (access code): 177 278 8445 Meeting password: 3fdQsTPs8X2

Join from a video system or application
Dial 1772788445@stateofmo.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number. Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-650-479-3207, 1772788445## Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110, 1772788445## United States Toll (Chicago)

Join by phone
1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Chicago)
Global call-in numbers

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) along with the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council released a new resource, the “Missouri Plain Language Guide for People with Disabilities, their Families and Caregivers,” on COVID-19 and the vaccine.

Through this partnership, the new guide will ensure that important information related to COVID-19 and vaccine access is more accessible to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and others with disabilities affecting reading, comprehension and other cognitive functions.

“After reading this new Missouri Plain Language Guide, I was very impressed with two very important things: 1) the amount of important and vitally necessary information that it contains; and 2) how plain and understandable the format is, that was used to present it, without diluting any of the valuable information that it conveys to the reader. I believe that this will prove to be a very valuable tool for persons with disabilities and many others,” said Cathy Enfield, Chairperson and Self-Advocate, Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council.

“There is so much information available about COVID-19 and vaccines, that it could be hard to navigate through the information. We value the collaboration with DHSS, to provide accurate information in a plain language format that is accessible to so many who experience disabilities. We look forward to continuing this important work to ensure the disability community has information to make decisions about their health,” said Vicky Davidson, Executive Director, Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council.

People with disabilities, their family members and caregivers have been eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the earliest phases of Missouri’s vaccine rollout. Currently, any Missourian age 12 and older is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Since the beginning of 2021, DHSS and the Missouri Advisory Committee on Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution have been focused on deploying new strategies and resources to meet the disability community where they are – this new guide is a resource to support Missouri’s disability community and those individuals, family members and caregivers who support them.

“Since day one at DHSS, our goal has been to ensure Missouri’s most vulnerable, people with disabilities and those who support them (i.e., their families, caregivers and disability service providers) were at the front of the line to receive the free vaccine throughout our vaccine roll-out process. Throughout the year, we have also been working to deploy new strategies and resources to meet the disability community where they are. Our new plain language guide is an additional resource for Missourians with disabilities and those who support them,” said Sara Hart Weir, co-chair of the Missouri Advisory Committee on Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution.

Enfield added, “We simply need information to be supplied in a clear, plain and understandable way. As Chair of the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council, I am proud of the work that our members and staff did on the document. I applaud their efforts and the efforts of all those who were involved.”

If you or someone you know is unable to visit a COVID-19 vaccination clinic without assistance, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 877-435-8411 and press option 4 to be routed directly to your local Area Agency on Aging to make a vaccine appointment. You can also register individuals for the vaccine by visiting Missouri’s COVID-19 website, MOStopsCovid.com. COVID-19 Hotline hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. (Hotline is open on Saturdays through until June 11.) Individuals are encouraged to call soon to ensure their names are added to the list.

June 18, 2021: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Guest: LaVrene Norton, Action Pact Founder, Executive Leader/CEO

Need help getting everyone out of the doldrums of COVID? Let free the spirit of joy and love – work together to bring back the simple pleasures of home. Create team on the fly. Let music and laughter rock the halls. Wave!

Think Neighborhood. Have a block party.

We begin again with a short presentation on the Artifacts of Culture Change as they can offer us a measurable road map. We will then head down the path to Neighborhood where culture change begins. Where good neighbors work together to enjoy and share the simple pleasures of daily life.

July 7, 2021: 2021 Train the Trainer
September 8, 2021: 2021 Train the Trainer
November 3, 2021: 2021 Train the Trainer

Participants must receive approval in order to attend this workshop. Those wishing to attend must submit the application and necessary paperwork to MALA at least five days prior to the workshop date.

Upon MALA’s review of your application, you will receive an approval/confirmation or denial letter via email.

July 26-28, 2021: 2021 ALF Assessment Training

As required by 198.005 RSMo and 19 CSR 30-86.047, residents of Assisted Living Facilities are required to undergo a community based assessment performed by an appropriately trained and qualified individual. This individual must complete a DHSS approved 24-hour training program prior to performing resident assessments. The MALA ALF Assessment Training satisfies this regulatory requirement.

DHSS will cease recoupment of excess Abbott BinaxNOW cards effective Friday, June 11 – meaning any recoupment requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 11 in order to be sent a mailing label. As before, we will only accept unopened boxes and box lots that have at least 30 days or more to expiration, please refer to the most recent extension expiry letter from Abbott. After that date, the recoupment form will be removed from the DHSS website.

If your facility has an excess of Abbott BinaxNow Cards, which you are unable to use prior to them expiring, please provide your information on the recoupment form link: https://mophep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/1913bb3c639843c49b74350a4652d750.

SEMA will send you UPS shipping labels and the tests will be sent to the state warehouse for redistribution- so they do not expire before they can be used.

Please note the following:

  • Unless you have specifically ordered the tests from DHSS via an online ordering portal- the tests you are returning were from FEDERAL.
  • SEMA is unable to accept tests that are 30 days or less until expiration date (this can be within the new expiry date). With less than 30 days, they are unable to recoup and redistribute those tests to another user in a timeframe that allows the new user time to incorporate into their testing regimen.
  • Abbott’s guidance for unused kits is that all components of this kit should be discarded as Biohazard waste.

CANCELLING DIRECT SHIPMENTS

  • If there are facilities in your state receiving direct allocations of Abbott Binax NOW that would like to cancel those allocations, please submit the cancellation request to ARDxUSGovernmentSupport@abbott.com. Note: this is a cancellation not a pause. Pausing allocations is not an option. Once received allocations can be transferred to other facilities within the state.

The sooner we’re all vaccinated for COVID-19, the safer we’ll all be. And that is especially true for point of care staff. That’s why the Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN), in collaboration with the Missouri Nursing Home Advisory Council, is seeking brief statements from the frontline – why your staff members chose to be vaccinated.

Peer-to-peer encouragement can boost vaccine confidence as well as vaccination rates.

Would any of your team members be willing to share their vaccination “story?” All it takes is completing a brief online form and uploading a photo, which could be a selfie, the staff member being vaccinated, or even an image to depict the reason they got vaccinated such as to keep their loved ones and residents healthy.

To participate, simply share the COVID-19 Vaccine Experience Consent form with staff or complete it for them (with their consent).

The collection of powerful impact statements will be developed into posters and social media posts so that we can spread the word, rather than the virus.

Questions? Email HQI.

The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation will be releasing a series of Life Safety Code Information. You may also view the entire Life Safety Code document for reference.

Today’s subject is:

Can residents have a microwave in their room?

K324 – Cooking is not allowed in resident rooms. NFPA 19.3.2.5.3 and 19.3.2.5.4
K925 – Cooking appliances cannot be within 15 feet of an area of administration in a resident room.

NFPA 101, 2012 edition:
18/19.3.2.5.2* Where residential cooking equipment is used for food warming or limited cooking, the equipment shall not be required to be protected in accordance with 9.2.3, and the presence of the equipment shall not require the area to be protected as a hazardous area.
18/19.3.2.5.4* Within a smoke compartment, residential or commercial cooking equipment that is used to prepare meals for 30 or fewer persons shall be permitted, provided that the cooking facility complies with all of the following conditions:

(1) The space containing the cooking equipment is not a sleeping room.
(2) The space containing the cooking equipment shall be separated from the corridor by partitions complying with 19.3.6.2 through 19.3.6.5.
(3) The requirements of 19.3.2.5.3(1) through (10) and (13) are met.

June 2021 -December 2022 – 2nd Tuesday of each month from 12-1 p.m.: ICP Monthly Webinar Series

June 10 – Inaugural Webinar: Vaccines are Safe – How we know!
Lynelle Phillips, MPH, RN, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Public Health, School of Health Professions, Extension Service Nurse Specialist, University of Missouri, Columbia

  • General rules of vaccines
  • FDA approval process and Emergency Use Authorization Use (EUA) process
  • How were we able to get a vaccine to market in such a short time and still cut no corners?
  • Compare the different vaccines – safety and efficacy
  • Is the lesser protection by J&J significant enough to be important? J&J Case Study.

 

July 8 – How do COVID vaccines affect immunity to COVID?
Taylor Nelson, DO, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine, University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia. Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease

  • Natural immunity vs vaccine-induced immunity – which is best?
  • How long does the vaccine protect me?
  • What is Herd immunity and is it reasonable to expect we will ever achieve it?
  • If I’ve had COVID, why get vaccinated?
  • To boost or not to boost?
  • I’m young, isn’t it less risky to take chance with COVID than the vaccine?

 

August 10 – Environmental Health: Air Purification and Quality
Loie Couch, RN, BS, CIC, FAPIC, Infection Prevention Specialist, Barnes Jewish Christian (BJC) Hospital, St. Louis

  • Functions of a ventilation system
  • Benefits and limitations of bi-polar ionization
  • Minimum filtration requirements
  • Apply filtration flexibility on a space-by-space approach
  • Appropriate use of UV light disinfection and accompanying hazards
  • Visible light disinfection and its appropriate use and considerations

July 28, 2021: Missouri Suicide Prevention Conference

The Missouri Suicide Prevention Network invites you to join us for our annual conference!

This year’s conference is brought to you by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Behavioral Health Council and Community Counseling Center.

Visit us online at www.mospn.org/conference.

The virtual conference will be free of charge, unless you are needing continuing education. Continuing Education (CE) will be $10 per person.

The Missouri Behavioral Health Council has approved this program for up to 6.3 behavioral health continuing education contact hours. MBHC will be responsible for this program and maintain a record of your continuing education hours earned. See agenda for session breakdown.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) is currently pending approval for select sessions. See agenda for those eligible sessions.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced a partnership between the Area Agencies on Aging, local public health agencies, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to ensure homebound adults have a streamlined and accessible vaccination experience across the state. Understanding that various communities have already developed a plan for vaccinating homebound individuals in their area, the partnerships established by the State are to merely supplement and allow these efforts to continue at the local level.

COVID-19 vaccination of homebound persons presents unique challenges to ensure the appropriate vaccine storage, temperatures, handling, and administration to ensure safe and effective vaccination.  Both CDC and CMS define homebound persons as those that need the help of another person or medical equipment such as crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair to leave their home, or their medical provider believes that their health or illness could get worse if they leave their home, and they typically do not leave their home. 

The homebound referral process begins with the Area Agencies on Aging who are experts in discerning homebound status. Adults who are homebound and want to be vaccinated in their home can register through their local Area Agency on Aging or through the Missouri Vaccine Navigator registry by indicating they are homebound. Individuals reaching out to the State COVID-19 Hotline seeking vaccination for a homebound individual will be directed to their local Area Agency on AgingThe homebound individual, their caregiver, family member, or healthcare provider can make the referral. 

The Area Agency on Aging makes contact with the homebound individual to obtain consent and gather the pertinent information to coordinate the vaccination in their home.  In some cases, caregivers and other household members may also be vaccinated at the same time as the homebound individual to prevent vaccine wastage. The Area Agency on Aging turns over the list of registered homebound individuals to their local public health agency or EMS provider who then schedules the in-home appointments. The AAA may also provide the homebound individual with courtesy appointment reminders via phone as many do not have internet or email access. 

The City of St. Louis Department of Health teamed up with the St. Louis Fire Department, Team Rubicon and the St. Louis City Area Agency on Aging to provide their homebound residents COVID-19 vaccination opportunity.

“This program will provide much-needed protection against COVID-19 for clients who may find it difficult to visit a vaccine clinic,” says Dr. Fredrick Echols, Acting Director of Health for the City of St. Louis. “By bringing the vaccine to them, we remove the barrier of travel and ensure these clients are not left behind in the vaccination process.”

[View Photo]  James Thompson, EMS Supervisor, and Mary Sullivan with Team Rubicon vaccinate a homebound resident of St. Louis City.

Kansas City’s homebound vaccination strategy involves a partnership between the Mid-America Region Council (MARC) Area Agency on Aging, the local health departments of Cass, Clay and Platte Counties and Kansas City, as well as multiple EMS and fire districts.

Chief Chip Portz of Central Jackson County Fire District said, “By partnering with our local health department and by taking advantage of reimbursement opportunities, the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District is able to provide this vital community service to a very vulnerable population without using emergency crews who would normally be protecting the rest of our citizens. We use off-duty paramedics in a non-emergency role to ensure our emergency response capacity is not diminished or compromised.”

[View Photo]  Central Jackson County Fire District, Captain Paramedic, Nathan Manley is providing vaccination to a homebound resident.

Lee’s Summit Assistant Fire Chief, Dan Manley, who has been instrumental in regional emergency planning, arranged a vaccine event for MARC Aging and Adult Services staff as well as their community partner who is delivering meals to self-isolating congregate and homebound older adults during COVID.

“Having our staff and volunteers vaccinated protects our most vulnerable homebound residents that we serve,” said Manley.

If you or someone you know is homebound or unable to visit a COVID-19 vaccination clinic without assistance, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 877-435-8411 and press option 4 to be routed directly to your local Area Agency on Aging to make a vaccine appointment. You can also register homebound individuals for the vaccine by visiting Missouri’s COVID-19 website, MOStopsCovid.com. COVID-19 Hotline hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Individuals are encouraged to call soon to ensure their names are added to the list.  

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has launched the Missouri Vaccine Navigator in five additional languages for non-English speaking individuals. Already available in English and Spanish, Vaccine Navigator now also allows individuals to register and find vaccination appointments throughout Missouri in Chinese, French, Korean, Portuguese and Russian.

All individuals over the age of 12 are now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Missouri, regardless of their citizenship. (Pfizer is the only vaccine authorized for those ages 12-17).

Approximately 775,000 individuals are currently registered in Missouri Vaccine Navigator, which is powered by Qualtrics. The system allows individuals to register and schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine by viewing vaccination events throughout the state.

In addition to helping individuals register for a vaccine, the Missouri Vaccine Navigator will remind registrants when it is time to schedule their second dose. Two of the vaccines currently authorized for use (Pfizer and Moderna) require two doses, and the second dose is critical to ensure individual and community protection.

The Missouri Vaccine Navigator also integrates with ShowMeVax, the state’s immunization database for providers. Vaccination events using the Missouri Vaccine Navigator for scheduling enables  coordinators to quickly load vaccination administration data into the system and avoid cumbersome data entry.

Once an individual is registered with Missouri Vaccine Navigator, the scheduling platform becomes available and can be accessed as often as needed or until vaccination is achieved.

Those with online accessibility issues are encouraged to call the COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411 for registration assistance. Language translation and other services are available to callers.

COVID-19 vaccines are completely free for everyone in the U.S. Get the facts at  MOStopsCovid.com.

The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation will be releasing a series of Life Safety Code Information. You may also view the entire Life Safety Code document for reference.

Today’s subject is:

What if a sprinkler head gets paint on it or has corrosion?

No one can successfully remove paint or corrosion from a sprinkler head and the facility must replace those sprinkler heads. There is currently not any UL listed paint remover.

NFPA 25, 2011 edition:
5.2.1.1 Sprinklers shall be inspected from the floor level annually.
5.2.1.1.1 Sprinklers shall not show signs of leakage; shall be free of corrosion, foreign materials, paint, and physical damage; and shall be installed in the correct orientation (e.g., upright, pendent, or sidewall).
5.2.1.1.2 Any sprinkler that shows signs of any of the following shall be replaced:

(1) Leakage
(2) Corrosion
(3) Physical damage
(4) Loss of fluid in the glass bulb heat responsive element
(5) Loading
(6) Painting unless painted by the sprinkler manufacturer

5.2.1.1.3 Any sprinkler that has been installed in the incorrect orientation shall be replaced.
5.2.1.1.4 Any sprinkler shall be replaced that has signs of leakage; is painted, other than by the sprinkler manufacturer, corroded, damaged, or loaded; or is in the improper orientation.
5.2.1.1.5 Glass bulb sprinklers shall be replaced if the bulbs have emptied.

The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation is again seeking input from providers we serve. We are asking for your help in identifying areas in our Section where excellent customer service is provided and areas where we need to focus on improving our customer service experience.

Please take a couple minutes to complete our 2021 Provider Feedback Survey by June 30, 2021 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CFY7N9T.

The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation will be releasing a series of Life Safety Code Information. You may also view the entire Life Safety Code document for reference.

Today’s subject is:

How often does the facility need to ensure the generator transfers power within 10 seconds?

  1. What information is required for the documentation?
  2. Does it have to be under load?

The facility staff must document a transfer within ten seconds at least annually. This documentation must include all legs with the amperage under load. The load test must last at least 30 minutes, which is in addition to (warm up is not allowed) cool down times. This is not a load bank test, which is available only for diesel generators who cannot meet at least 30% of load.

NFPA 110, 2010 edition:
4.3 Type. The type defines the maximum time, in seconds, that the EPSS will permit the load terminals of the transfer switch to be without acceptable electrical power. Table 4.1(b) provides the types defined by this standard.