COVID-19 Update #249
Vaccination Update Reminder, MDH Survey,
MDH LTC Webinar Recap, Resources, AHCA Honors Program
|
|
Vaccination Update Reminder
As we shared yesterday, Leaders from LifeSpan, LeadingAge Maryland, and HFAM met to advance the important work we have been doing with Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and National Guard leaders on holding the next round of initial COVID-19 vaccination clinics for residents, patients, and staff in skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers.
Since the completion of the three CVS/Walgreens clinics, Marylanders in need have continued to be admitted into nursing homes, new employees have been hired, and many of employees who were earlier reluctant to be vaccinated now wish to be vaccinated. And importantly, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is now and will be increasingly available.
Beginning next week, Remedi Senior Care will be allocated a limited initial supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from MDH and the federal government. Remedi will begin working with nursing homes and others with whom they contract to get these doses administered. Remedi will be in touch directly.
Additionally, in the next ten days Maryland National Guard tactical teams will receive limited initial supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. These teams will contact nursing homes approximately 48 hours in advance and will deploy to vaccinate residents, patients, and staff in nursing homes. It is critical that consent forms for employees, residents, and staff are signed and ready before the teams arrive. Vaccinations will not be administered without the consent form.
In the coming weeks we anticipate that more long-term care pharmacies will be in a position to provide the vaccine to our sector. With the expected increase in availability of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, it will be important for nursing homes and others in our sector to register with ImmuNet so that the state may allocate the vaccine directly to nursing homes and others. Click here for a registration guide.
In the near term, if the supplies of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine grow as anticipated, it will be critically important that Maryland re-initiate first dose deployment on assisted living campuses, senior housing, and underserved communities.
Finally, the Maryland National Guard tactical team has sent short survey to nursing homes (see below). Please complete the survey ASAP. Onward together!
|
|
|
MDH Survey
Do you have new and/or current residents and staff who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine?
On the heels of your facility's three CVS/Walgreens visits, the Maryland Department of Health's Technical Assistance Team is now making arrangements to visit facilities to administer a limited supply of Johnson & Johnson vaccines to those who have not been vaccinated. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose vaccine. Second doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines will not be administered.
In order to take advantage of this Johnson & Johnson supply, please complete this survey by COB Monday 3/29/2021. Note: facilities who submit surveys past this deadline will not be accommodated.
The clinic site visits will not be scheduled. After completing the survey, the Technical Assistance Teams will contact your facility 24-48 hours in advance of visiting your site. The clinic will run approximately 2-3 hours per facility.
It is absolutely critical that all consent forms for employees, residents, and staff are signed and ready before the TAT team arrives.
|
|
MDH Webinar Recap
Yesterday, the Maryland Department of Health held a webinar call to update the long-term care sector on COVID-19 developments and best practices. The call was recorded, in case you were unable to join or would like to review the topics discussed, which included:
- Maryland Epi Updates
- LTCF COVID-19 Vaccination Maintenance and Planning
- FAQ
|
|
First Financial Federal Credit Union
Don't just bank, belong! HFAM has partnered with First Financial Federal Credit Union to offer our members access to all that the credit union has to offer. Credit Unions provide the same services as a bank, but offer lower loan rates, higher dividend rates, little or no fees, and maintain a commitment to the communities that they serve. You are eligible to join as an HFAM member, plus your immediate family members are eligible to join.
First Financial offers great products such as a high-rate checking account, access to 55,000 ATMs nationwide, six branch locations in Baltimore and Carroll Counties, mobile and online banking, as well as online and virtual financial wellness guidance. When you join First Financial, you unlock a lifetime of valuable membership benefits.
Join First Financial and open a new account of any type from now until April 16th and you will receive $50! Please review the digital membership packet that that goes into more depth about everything that the credit union offers. To join online, review the digital membership packet and then click the join link on the back page. Or simply visit firstfinancial.org/open or a branch to open your account. Once you are in the online membership application, choose “affiliated with Health Facilities Association of Maryland” as your membership eligibility. You will need your ID and $5 to open your account – your $50 cash deposit will be made after the promotional period ends. We look forward to having you join our credit union family!
|
GivHero
We are excited to inform you of our new partnership with GivHero. GivHero engages employees in wellness challenges through connection to social causes. It’s an easy, fun way to stay active and engaged in wellness while raising money for a good cause.
Participants “compete” to meet health and wellness goals on a daily basis. If these daily wellness goals are met, HFAM makes a contribution to a charity of the center’s choosing.
Daily goals are simple tasks, such as walking 5,000 steps per day or checking in with a colleague. Progress is recorded and can be viewed through the GivHero app. Participants can even sync the app with their smartphone or fitness tracker so everything is automatically recorded. Stay tuned for wellness challenges for your teams to participate!
Interested? Email us to learn more about setting up a challenge.
|
|
Upcoming Events, Opportunities,
and Resources
|
Ongoing Discount
CEUSrEZ
CEUSrEZ is proud to partner with The Health Facilities Association of Maryland and The Maryland Center for Assisted Living to provide its members NAB approved, discounted online continuing education – CEUs made “EZ”!
|
How the pandemic will create opportunity in referral networks
March 30
Learning objectives:
Understand how COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of the fee-for-service system
Take advantage of a disrupted market to defend or acquire their place in hospital referral networks
Gain clarity on what Acute-care organizations are looking for from a preferred post-acute partner
|
State and Federal Resources
Check these sites often for updated guidance, resources, and information about the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
|
|
|
With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the AHCA/NCAL Get Vaccinated campaign now has a dedicated website – getvaccinated.us – to help educate and encourage caregivers and staff at long-term care facilities to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The website includes credible information from medical professionals, public health officials, and scientists to help answer common questions about the vaccines among staff members and other individuals.
|
|
|
AHCA/NCAL Unveils COVID-19 Honors Program |
|
Earlier this week, AHCA/NCAL unveiled its COVID-19 Honors program for long term care staff. This program was created for facilities to recognize their incredible staff in long term care who demonstrated strength and courage in the face of COVID-19. Any facility wishing to honor their staff can participate in this program.
There are three categories, which include:
- Individuals who work in a long term care facility where there was a COVID outbreak
- COVID survivors
- Staff members who passed away from COVID
Honorees can receive the following:
- Pin and Letter of Recognition: Individuals who work in a long term care facility where there was a COVID outbreak
- Medal and Letter of Recognition: COVID survivors
- Medal and United States Flag Flown over the U.S. Capitol: Families of staff members who passed away from COVID
When a facility purchases materials, they will also receive a communications packet, including:
- Ceremony guide
- Media advisory template announcing the ceremony
- Press release template (post-ceremony)
- Template letters to staff and family of staff who passed away
Honors materials are distributed on a rolling basis, so there is no deadline to purchase. Facilities can order and purchase merchandise via the AHCA/NCAL bookstore. Items will ship in mid-April. Merchandise is priced at AHCA/NCAL’s cost.
|
|
The 2021 HFAM Conference “Together We Re-Imagine” will be held in person October 4 – 7, 2021 at the Maryland Live Hotel and Casino in Hanover, Maryland. Hundreds of long-term care leaders will connect, share best practices and discuss actionable insights on how we can reflect, reform, rebuild, and revolutionize quality care. You and your teams will not want to miss this opportunity as we come together again.
|
|
Thank you to our current sponsors! |
|
Did you miss an update?
Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
