Coronavirus Update #59
Special HFAM Message, Mental Health, PPE Resources,
Upcoming Calls, and More
|
|
Thank you for all you and your teams are doing to provide quality care to Marylanders in need and to save lives. The steps you have taken are making a difference and we must continue our efforts to protect and support residents, patients, and staff.
Let me tell you why yesterday and today have been good days for me, despite the news from our sector and the war your teams are fighting against COVID-19. I got to speak one-on-one with three families who have loved ones either in or entering skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers. Those conversations touched my heart, and I believe those families appreciated the love and information I shared. Back when I was a leader in state government, in my work at AARP, and here at HFAM, I have always focused on the faces of the people in my work.
Again, these reminders are obvious, but so very important:
- Appreciate, support, and over communicate with your care teams.
- Over communicate with families, residents, patients and staff.
- Operate DRIVEN by your infectious disease protocol.
- Execute your observation and isolation beds.
- Work closely with your acute-care hospital partners and home health partners.
- Stay in contact with local health offices and the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ).
And remember, we are stronger together.
Be well,
|
|
Joseph DeMattos
President and CEO, HFAM
|
|
Mental Health Resources
Many people, especially caregivers who help and serve others, are feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to be vigilant to increased stress, trauma, and mental health problems.
The Mental Health Association of Maryland (MHAMD) has a "
Coronavirus resources" page on their newly remodeled mental health and aging website. If there are groups or individuals who would benefit from time to focus on these issues,
MHAMD can help with a tailored gathering that can be anything from a presentation to an exercise to a support group.
|
|
In our continuing efforts to assist providers with sourcing PPE supply, HFAM has identified several companies that are producing supplies and taking orders. These companies can be used to compliment orders from your existing vendors. Please contact the individuals directly regarding your needs to determine which company is a good fit for you.
|
|
MEDLINE
If you have a COVID-19 case, Medline will send you a special augmented shipment of PPE, as long as supplies last. Please contact your sales representative.
Many providers have purchased Medline disposable gowns and Medline is working as fast as possible to bring more into stock to meet demand. In the meantime, Medline has begun experimenting with
washing
these gowns. The initial tests have worked better than expected. Here are detailed instructions on how to wash these gowns:
Please note that there should be a test wash any of the gowns to determine their ability to effectively wash and sustain usability in the wash process. Do an initial small batch test to make sure the process works.
For additional information, questions, or product assistance, contact your Medline sales representative or call 1-800-Medline.
|
|
FACE SHIELDS
Sparx Protective Face Shield
Sparx Hockey, inventor of the revolutionary Sparx Skate Sharpener, has announced it will begin manufacturing protective face shields to assist the medical community in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The company expects to produce approximately 10,000-15,000 face shields a week and is currently taking orders via its website at
www.sparxhockey.com/safetygear
.
The Sparx Protective Face Shield is intended for single use only and should only be used with medically approved masks. Cost $59.00 for a pack of 10.
|
|
FACE MASKS
Eurotard Dancewear
has begun production of face masks. The factory closed its regular production due to the coronavirus and began production of PPE immediately.
For more information on the reusable face mask, please
click here
. Note that the pricing shown on the website is consumer retail pricing. Bulk orders for PPEs will be invoiced at wholesale pricing for your facility.
|
|
FACE MASKS AND HAND SANITIZERS
Offering bulk pricing on
Planet Earth Face Masks,
that are ATSM Level 2 FDA Certified.
Offering bulk pricing on
Greenerways Handsanitizer
a 70% Alcohol based hand sanitizer to meet the demands of First Responders, Hospitals and Healthcare centers.
Contact Scott Edwards, Innovative Marketing Services, phone 410-340-1113 or via email at
sedwards@imsreps.com
|
|
DISPOSABLE FACE SHIELDS
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has designed and licensed a manufacturer to produce
disposable face shields
in high volume. These face shields do not replace the need for face masks such as N95s but do offer splash protection and can extend the useful life of N95 respirators and surgical masks.
Long term care facilities facing shortages of face masks and other PPE should continue efforts to obtain N95s and other PPE, even if they order the MIT face shields. The face shields cost $348.75 for a box of 125 ($2.79 each). Learn more and access their order form at
mitshield.com
.
|
|
ALL PPE
IronMark.
In an effort to support the thousands of healthcare, medical staff and essential business workers in protecting themselves in this critical time, IronMark has leveraged their existing manufacturer relationships to source and make available PPE supplies and gear. Ironmark is committed to making these much needed supplies available to you, to protect the teams of heroes on, and supporting, the front line.
Hatch Exhibits in Elkridge, MD
is working with supply chain personnel at several local medical facilities in the Baltimore/Washington area as well as facilities in Michigan. Hatch is currently filling orders on a first-come, first-served basis for overnight or next day delivery. Please contact Tracy McCormick at
tracy@hatchexhibits.com
for additional information or to place an order.
|
|
CLEANING AND DISINFECTING COMPANIES – ALL LOCAL COMPANIES
Gordon
410-739-4432
Josh Rafter
Cell: 410-458-6180
Jim Reynolds
410-589-5999
(or)
Kevin Holmboe
410-271-0268
|
|
Proper Use of PPE Reminder
AHCA/NCAL has heard from CMS that a common theme they are finding during COVID-19 infection control focused surveys are PPE not being used correctly, including donning and doffing procedures. Surveyors are having staff demonstrate handwashing and donning and doffing of PPE.
We encourage you to review with your teams the appropriate way to apply and remove all PPE, including gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. Performing observations yourself can be helpful to prepare staff for surveyor observation and to quickly correct any practices needing improvement.
- These documents can be printed and posted in your center to ensure your staff are aware of how to appropriately don PPE.
- These documents can be printed off and posted in your center to ensure your staff are aware of how to appropriately doff PPE.
- The following video explains how to do hand hygiene and donning/doffing PPE appropriately.
|
|
COVID-19 Resource Request Process Reminder
As we have previously shared, The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is working closely with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to organize emergency suppliers of equipment and services that will aid in the response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Thank you to all of you and your staff for providing these essential services. Please direct questions to your local emergency management contact.
|
|
HFAM cannot guarantee the availability of any supplies or equipment. These resources are provided as an addition to your current PPE suppliers. HFAM will not profit financially from sales made from these vendors.
|
|
 |
Where to Turn for Help
Learn more about proper use of PPE and steps you can take to acquire equipment on the AHCA
COVID-19 website
under the new Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) section.
In addition, AHCA AHCA/NCAL has developed brief
guidance
for facilities facing PPE and staffing shortages, as well as other challenges in receiving assistance. It is critically important that you raise the alarm and you document your efforts to obtain support.
|
|
|
|
National Healthcare Decisions Day — TODAY April 16
National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.
The Conversation Project has been continuing to put together new COVID-19 specific resources to help you, your loved ones and your communities during this difficult time. We encourage you to check out this
new COVID-19 specific conversation guide.
Please see this
press release
from our partners at MedChi regarding the importance of this day.
|
|
COVID-19 Testing
Diamond Medical Labs, located in Owings Mills, has the capacity to do in-residence test collection for seniors during the COVID-19 outbreak so that they do not have to go out. 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.
Other Testing Sites:
First Call Medical Center Gambrills
1071 RT3 N
Gambrills, MD 21054
Drive thru
First Call Medical Center
10981 Johns Jopkins Rd
Laurel, MD 20723
|
|
|
***SNF & Hospital Partner Call - Friday, April 17 at 2:00 PM***
Along with the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA), the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), Johns Hopkins Medicine, LifeBridge, and other hospital partners, we will be hosting our fourth call to connect our sectors. HFAM will invite broadly and work with partners and other associations to make all post-acute providers aware of this call.
The purpose of that call will be to discuss topics of mutual interest such as transfers between hospitals and post-acute facilities, post-acute capacity, models to expand capacity, and other priorities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This call will take place Friday, April 17 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Dial-in: 1-415-655-0001
Passcode: 316 561 900 #
|
|
|
|
CMS Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19
On behalf of CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, you are invited to join
CMS
Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19
on
Friday, April 17
th
from
12:30 – 2 PM EST.
This call series is an opportunity to hear physicians and other clinical leaders share their experiences, best practices, strategies, and insights related to COVID-19.
Lessons from The Front Lines
calls are held weekly on Fridays at 12:30 PM Eastern and specific topics vary. Dial in details are below.
CMS Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19
Friday, April 17
12:30 – 2:00 PM EST
Participant Dial-In:
(877) 251-0301
Access Code:
8672948
Conference lines are limited, so you are encouraged to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser.
|
|
Updates to Provider Relief Fund Website
The federal government has added an
attestation portal
to the
CARES Act Provider Relief Fund website
.
Providers who have been allocated a payment from the initial $30 billion general distribution must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds and agree to the terms and conditions within 30 days of payment
.
Additionally, the federal government has clarified that relief funds are available to all providers regardless of whether they have specifically treated COVID-19, noting that the government “
broadly views every patient as a possible case of COVID-19
.”
|
|
Suspension of Standard Surveys Continues
CMS announced on its national call with nursing homes on April 15 that the suspension of standard surveys will continue until further notice. This means the
CMS guidance
released on March 23 has been extended until CMS states otherwise. CMS will continue to conduct surveys for immediate jeopardy situations and additional infection control focused surveys using this
tool
.
Use this tool to perform self-assessments of your infection control policies, plans, and practices, including visitor entry and screening; infection surveillance; education, monitoring, and screening of staff; handwashing, donning and doffing of PPE, and other transmission-based precautions. You can find additional information to help you with
AHCA’s Action Brief
and on
ahcancalED
.
Surveyors entering the building should bring their own PPE; be sure to screen surveyors as you would any visitor to the building, which now includes temperature checks. Surveyors should spend as little time onsite as possible for these surveys and are instructed not to investigate routine issues.
|
|
Long Term Care Administrator Exams
National Administrator Board (NAB) exams are now available as of April 14, 2020 and are considered an essential business need. Testing centers and dates are still somewhat limited, but candidates can go to the PSI scheduling site as they normally would following the link in their approval letters, and they will be able to see what sites and dates are available. This information is now posted on the
NAB website
.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
