Coronavirus Update #189
HFAM Update, Register for the Post-Election Recap, Diamond Labs, Medline Spot Buys
|
|
Friends:
First, thank you and you teams for all that you do. I hope and pray that by now, you know you have never stood alone in this pandemic. As predicted, we are at the beginning of the fall surge of COVID-19. We knew this was coming; we wrote about it as your association and helped you prepare for it. You have prepared, and now we are here navigating it together.
People who live in nursing homes have multiple chronic conditions. VERY sadly, people with multiple chronic conditions are more susceptible to COVID-19 and more often die from the virus. That said, the death rate of people with multiple chronic conditions from COVID-19 is about the same inside and outside of nursing homes. More people have survived in Maryland nursing homes than have died during this pandemic. Every death is to be mourned, and every life saved is to be celebrated. People in nursing homes who die with and because of COVID-19 are more susceptible to the virus because of their multiple chronic pre-existing conditions.
Some key points as we move forward:
- It is critical to recognize that the #1 indicator of COVID getting in our setting is the COVID hotness of the surrounding community-at-large. We must be clinically driven.
- Infectious disease protocols, proper donning and doffing, PPE supplies, all even MORE key in moments like this, kind of as it was in March and April. And now, fatigue is more pronounced.
- We also have to be extra vigilant on transfers back and forth from hospitals.
- We’ve all had continuing concerns about staffing, going back to the start—it will take all of us in and out of government to navigate that front.
- Commercial testing will likely become less timely in a surge, and we’ll have to use both PCR and POC.
- Telemedicine will continue to be critical.
Reminders, as always:
- I am proud of all you are doing.
- People first, quality counts.
- Our sector MUST double our efforts on infectious disease protocol, staffing, PPE, observation, and testing.
- Train, train, and train teams again on infectious disease protocol.
- Recognize that COVID-19 fighting fatigue is an issue across the county, not just in our sector.
- Over-communicate with residents, patients, families, staff, and government partners; and work with your hospital partners, and coordinate with local and state regulatory partners.
- Take and document your action; keep a timeline
-
CLICK HERE for the Dr. Katz Video, and please see our attached Donning and Doffing Checklist we first distributed a couple of months ago.
Be well,
|
|
Joe DeMattos
President and CEO
|
|
Post-Election Recap - Register Today
|
|
Diamond Medical Labs
Diamond Medical Labs, located in Owings Mills, has the capacity to do in-residence test collection for nursing home residents and staff.
Contact Andy Diamond at andy@diamondmedicallabs.com or 443-992-2782 if there is demand at your center or if you would like additional information. |
|
Medline: Spot Buys mitigate shortages on COVID-19 core products
To meet the demand for medical supplies during this time of supply chain strain, Medline has sourced and procured several new products through "spot buys" in order to alleviate the pain due to shortages on some of their traditional products.
- An overview of the spot buy program
- Products currently available
- Details on availability, pricing, and other purchase specifics
Keep in mind that what is included and available may change from week to week.
|
|
 |
Did you miss HFAM's previous alerts?
Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
|
|
|
|
Additional Resources and Guidance
|
|
|
Thank you.
We cannot thank you enough for the dedication and diligence in doing all that you can for the residents in your communities. HFAM continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with our state and national partners and will do all we can to support you during this time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
