Greetings!
This message includes:
- news about vaccine consent from CVS and Walgreens;
- quick links to vaccine clinic planning resources, including new promotional materials from AHCA/NCAL;
- reminders about the temporary nurse aide waiver;
- a link to Monday’s VDH webinar, “COVID-19 Vaccine Facts Not Fear Expert Panel for LTC”;
- a request to complete a new survey from VDH on COVID-19 testing—the results will be used to VDH to distribute a new allocation of BD testing kits and devices this week, so we encourage you to take the survey; and
- DSS memos on Executive Order 72 – Commonsense Surge Restrictions and the PPE delivery schedule over the holidays.
Sincerely,
April Payne, MBA, LNHA
Vice President of Quality Improvement | Director of VCAL
Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living
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Updated Vaccine Consent Information
from CVS and Walgreens
CVS and Walgreens have updated their vaccination program websites, consent information, and FAQs to reflect that they will accept verbal or email consent to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.
CVS
Walgreens
A. Walgreens requires each patient to complete a vaccine consent form (VAR) in order to capture patient information and screening questions prior to any vaccine administration. Consent can be received by phone, email or verbally to LTCF staff. The patient (or person authorized to consent to the vaccination on behalf of the person) must sign the vaccine consent form (VAR).
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Resources to Help Plan for Vaccine Clinics
VDH and AHCA/NCAL has developed many resources to help you plan for your COVID-19 vaccine clinics and communicate with staff and residents about the importance of getting this vaccine.
Use the AHCA/NCAL #GetVaccinated Communications Toolkit for checklists, template letters (in English and Spanish), sample social media, and media prep material. AHCA/NCAL has been adding resources to this site, including new branded collateral and graphics for your use.
VDH Resources
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Temporary Nurse Aide Reminder
October 2, 2020, the federal public health emergency (PHE) was extended for 90 days. (The PHE can only be extended in 90-day increments.) The extension of the PHE also extended the duration of the 1135 national blanket waiver, which included the extension of the waiver to temporarily suspend the four-month limit on individuals working in a nursing facility as a temporary nurse aide (TNA) on a full time basis.
The PHE is set to expire on January 21, 2021. After that time, TNAs will not be able to be utilized. CMS has encouraged AHCA/NCAL and state associations to remind providers to start to transition the TNAs to CNAs as they know the process can be long and that there are likely delays in training and testing abilities across the country.
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December 21: VDH COVID-19 Vaccine
Facts Not Fear Expert Panel for LTC
On Monday, December 21 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm VDH will host an expert panel to discuss COVID-19 vaccine facts for long term care facility staff and residents. We encourage you to share information about this event with your communities.
Dr. Laurie Forlano, Dr. Costi Sifri, and Dr. Michael Stevens will present. Dr. Forlano is the VDH deputy director of population health and lead on the agency’s LTC Task Force. This session will be moderated by Dr. Laurie Archbald-Pannone and will consist of a 45 minute discussion moderated by Dr. Archbald-Pannone followed by a 15 minute Q&A session.
Call in #: (408) 418-9388
Meeting number (access code): 132 483 3795
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VDH Long Term Care Facility Testing Survey
The VDH COVID-19 Testing Team is seeking assistance from both NFs and ALFs in learning more about COVID-19 testing in LTCFs. The Testing Team has developed a short survey to gather information that will help the team better focus its efforts to help LTCFs.
The team is seeking information on core topics:
- How widely used is point of care antigen testing?
- Which brand of test is used most?
- Do facilities need technical assistance with doing testing?
- Roughly how many point of care tests are used weekly?
- Are there any areas (not just antigen testing) regarding Covid-19 that long-term care facilities or providers would like more education on?
The responses to these questions (and a few others) will help guide potential future purchases of antigen tests for LTCFs, training, and potentially look for funding for newer test options that LTCFs are interested in (such as at-home testing devices for homebound or home health patients, for example).
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The survey will remain open until at least December 31, 2020, but you are encouraged to complete it as soon as practical. VDH will send reminder emails along the way and will let you know when it will close.
VDH realizes you have received many surveys and have many demands for your time. The information obtained from this survey will allow the VDH Testing Team to focus its efforts to serve you better. Results will be shared in an aggregate form. If you have questions, please contact Brooke Rossheim, MD, MPH.
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DSS Memos on Executive Order 72 and
Weekly PPE Deliveries - Christmas Schedule
DSS has issued a memo related to Executive Order (EO) 72 – Commonsense Surge Restrictions, which are effective through January 31, 2021. EO 72 strengthens the mask/face coverings requirements and further limits social gatherings. DSS advises providers to review the mandates and adjust your services and care as necessary.
Of note for ALFs, while public and private in-person gatherings must be limited to 10 individuals, this does not apply to participation in-house dining or activites of assisted living when requirements for social distancing are met. We encourage you to read the memo in its entirety for additional information related to EO 72.
In another memo, DSS sent information about PPE deliveries stemming from weekly reporting of PPE inventory and burn rate over the holidays. Please review the memo for the details about the changes for the upcoming two weeks. (Note this memo does not pertain to the PPE Push Pack deliveries.)
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Upcoming Events
January 28, 2021
December 21, 2020 | 7:00 pm
January 14, 2021
February 3, 4, 10, and 11, 2021
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