Arizona’s Disaster Ready program now has the critical resources your team needs in one convenient and accessible location through the development of the newly updated Disaster Ready mobile app.

The Disaster Ready mobile app is available for all skilled nursing facilities in Arizona to download at no cost. It provides users with immediate access to tools like the Nursing Home Incident Command System (NHICS) documents, facility-based documents and other preparedness resources along with access to the Disaster Ready app’s sponsor RestorationHQ. Plus, the information loaded on the app will remain accessible to users even when connectivity may be lost. 

The Disaster Ready mobile app is now available for downloading -- click on the buttons below! 

Due to the annual AHCA Convention in July, there will not be an IP Call. The monthly EPIC IP calls will resume in the month of August. Please email Kay Huff with any questions.

New Infection Preventionist Guidance

A complete copy of this new guidance can be found at F882 in the Advanced Copy of Appendix PP.  

If you have questions on Life Safety Code compliance as it relates to infection prevention, contact Stan Szpytek, DR/EPIC Consultant at Stan@azhca.org or call him on his mobile number at (708) 707-6363.

The Arizona Health Alert Network reported that since May 2022, 72 monkeypox cases have been identified in 18 US states and territories, including one case in Arizona (as of 6/15/22). Globally, more than 1,800 cases have been reported in 35 countries. Clinical information collected so far from the US cases shows that some disease manifestations may differ from the classic presentation of monkeypox disease. The Health Alert Network included that the most recent reported cases, prodromal symptoms may not have always occurred; some recent cases have begun with characteristic, monkeypox-like lesions in the genital and perianal region, in the absence of subjective fever and other prodromal symptoms. For this reason, cases may be confused with more commonly seen infections (e.g., syphilis, chancroid, herpes, and varicella zoster). The average incubation period for symptom onset is 5–13 days. More information on cases in the US and be found at HAN Archive - 00466 | Health Alert Network (HAN) (cdc.gov).

Facilities should notify local public health regarding suspected monkeypox cases and place the patient in a single-person room. Standard, contact, and droplet precautions should also be used. Movement of the patient outside of the room should be limited to medically essential purposes, with the patient wearing appropriate PPE. Negative pressure and airborne isolation rooms are not required unless the patient is undergoing a respiratory procedure.

Some people who have been infected with COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, this is known as post-COVID conditions (PCC) or long COVID. Post-COVID can include a wide range of ongoing health problems lasting from weeks to years, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Post-COVID conditions may not affect everyone the same way, people who experience post-COVID conditions most commonly report; tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, heart palpitations, headache, sleep problems and more.

If you think you or any residents you serve may have a post-COVID condition, taking a few steps to prepare for your meeting with a health care provider can make a significant difference in getting the proper medical evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. Review these tips to help prepare for a health care provider appointment for post-COVID conditions. In addition, there are many support groups being organized that can help patients and their caregivers.

On Tuesday June 28, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) independent experts on the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee met to discuss whether to change the current vaccine strain composition of COVID-19 vaccines for booster doses is necessary for the 2022 fall and winter seasons. An overwhelming majority of the advisory committee voted in favor of including a SARS-CoV-2 omicron component in COVID-19 vaccines that would be used for boosters in the U. S. beginning in fall 2022. The FDA has not advised manufacturers to change the vaccine for primary vaccination, since a primary series with the FDA-authorized and approved COVID-19 vaccines provides a base of protection against series outcomes of COVID-19 caused by circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2. 

OSHA’s program that targets skilled nursing and other long-term care facilities for COVID-19 inspections and compliance is being extended past last week’s deadline. OSHA on June 30 announced it was extending its Revised National Emphasis Program for COVID-19 “until further notice.”

It's also temporarily increasing its COVID inspection goal from 5% to 10% of inspections as the agency works to finalize a permanent coronavirus healthcare standard.

The program was launched by OSHA in March 2021. It focuses on enforcement efforts toward industries with a high risk for worker exposure to COVID-19, and employers that retaliate against workers who complain about unsafe or unhealthy conditions. SNFs, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living facilities and home health care services are among the program’s targeted health care industries.

As part of the survey process, staff will be asked to communicate their understanding of this scenario. Your facility is required to develop a comprehensive evacuation policy and procedure that addresses all elements of evacuation including information that addresses the specific issue of a non-compliant resident. Further, facilities must train their staff on the evacuation policy to help ensure that they understand the process and can communicate their knowledge of the policy and procedure when interviewed by surveyors. 

Here is a link to a sample policy developed by the Disaster Ready team that provides some basic language that can be considered for your facility's evacuation policies and procedures. It will be important to customize this sample document so it is truly a part of your facility's policies, and not just a blank template.

The importance of building ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ) has long-been recognized for its critical role in creating a comfortable, productive and healthy environment for occupants. As a result of COVID-19, facilities can better understand the role IAQ plays in infection control. Building owners and operators of all building types are still challenged to create safe indoor environments that mitigate exposure risks to airborne diseases. Recognizing this, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued its Clean Air in Buildings Challenge. 

Four key actions outlined in the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge include the following:

In June, two disaster forums were conducted, a Significant Events Readiness Forum (SERF) Level 5 Earthquake scenario in Flagstaff and a Targeted Events Readiness Forum (TERF) downed aircraft scenario near ASU. 

These events were designed to include the "Whole Community" concept realizing that first responders are not the only entitles affected. The objectives were to discuss "What Happened If" as it relates to all members of the community (long term care included).  

Both of these incidents would have been catastrophic and have long-lasting effects. The hope is that neither one will occur, but the reality is that both are possible. It is impossible to have a plan for every emergency scenario, but taking steps to include possible emergencies in your hazard vulnerability assessment is valuable. 

Earthquakes and plane crashes might be an appropriate tabletop discussion in your facility on how it might affect operations. For more information about these forums, contact EPIC consultant, Gil Damiani at gild@azhca.org.

Questions? Contact EPIC@azhca.org |This program is funded by ADHS