Source: https://www.mnnursinghomeneglect.com/corona-virus/
Timestamp: 2020-06-04 01:47:33
Document Index: 529921091

Matched Legal Cases: ['§482', '§482', '§482', '§482', '§ 483', '§ 483', '§ 483', '§ 483', '§ 483', '§ 483']

Corona Virus Information For Elder Advocates |
The recent novel corona virus, COVID-19 has taken the world by literal storm. The virus has had an effect on society not seen in generations the risk of death to vulnerable adults has lead to the closing of most businesses and a lock down on travel and forced social distancing.
Minnesota Department of Health Information about Corona Virus COVID-19
According to the MDH:
Corona Virus Impact on Elders
Aside from the direct impact to seniors and vulnerable adults themselves under lockdown and unable to see their family and friends, they are also the highest risk of serious complications or death from exposure.
According to CMS, it directs nursing homes to significantly restrict visitors and nonessential personnel, as well as restrict communal activities inside nursing homes. The new measures are CMS’s latest action to protect America’s seniors, who are at highest risk for complications from COVID-19. While visitor restrictions may be difficult for residents and families, it is an important temporary measure for their protection.
The Guidelines Have Exceptions for Compassionate Care Reasons
The guidelines do make an exception for compassionate care reasons, such as end-of-life situations, which will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Visitors and essential health care providers should be actively screened prior to any visit. Essential health care workers include, but are not limited to, facility staff, therapists, home health, hospice providers, dialysis staff, physicians, necessary lab/X-ray staff, clergy, mobility drivers for transport to essential appointments, local public health, the ombudsman, state agency survey staff, and Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) staff. Any essential health care provider exhibiting acute respiratory symptoms will be prohibited from entering the building.
Minnesota Has Corona Virus Situation MDH Website Updated Daily
This MDH site provides information on the totals of persons, testing for the virus, those testing positive and deaths related to COVID-19.
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, MDH – PROVIDES DAILY UPDATES ON THE CORONA VIRUS COVID-19
Elder Care Facilities Must Ensure Proper Infectious Disease Control to Protect Residents and Staff
Nursing homes always have a duty to implement proper disease control to prevent or reduce the spread of infectious disease. The need for personal protective equipment, PPE, compliance with infectious disease control protocols and sanitation is essential to protect vulnerable residents.
CENTER FOR MEDICARE MEDICAID SERVICES GUIDANCE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS
The Trump Administration is taking aggressive actions and exercising regulatory flexibilities to help healthcare providers contain the spread of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). CMS is empowered to take proactive steps through 1135 waivers as well as, where applicable, authority granted under section 1812(f) of the Social Security Act (the Act) and rapidly expand the Administration’s aggressive efforts against COVID-19. As a result, the following blanket waivers are in effect, with a retroactive effective date of March 1, 2020 through the end of the emergency declaration
Hospital Patient Rights. CMS is waiving requirements under 42 CFR §482.13 only for hospitals that are considered to be impacted by a widespread outbreak of COVID-19. Hospitals that are located in a state which has widespread confirmed cases (i.e., 51 or more confirmed cases*) as updated on the CDC website, CDC States Reporting Cases of COVID-19, at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html, would not be required to meet the following requirements:
• §482.13(d)(2) – With respect to timeframes in providing a copy of a medical record.
• §482.13(h) – Related to patient visitation, including the requirement to have written policies and procedures on visitation of patients who are in COVID-19 isolation and quarantine processes.
• §482.13(e)(1)(ii) – Regarding seclusion.
*The waiver flexibility is based on the number of confirmed cases as reported by CDC and will be assessed accordingly when corona virus COVID-19 confirmed cases decrease.
• Physical Environment. CMS is waiving requirements related at 42 CFR 483.90, specifically the following:
• Provided that the state has approved the location as one that sufficiently addresses safety and comfort for patients and staff, CMS is waiving requirements under § 483.90 to allow for a non-SNF building to be temporarily certified and available for use by a SNF in the event there are needs for isolation processes for COVID-19 positive residents, which may not be feasible in the existing SNF structure to ensure care and services during treatment for COVID-19 are available while protecting other vulnerable adults. CMS believes this will also provide another measure that will free up inpatient care beds at hospitals for the most acute patients while providing beds for those still in need of care. CMS will waive certain conditions of participation and certification requirements for opening a NF if the state determines there is a need to quickly stand up a temporary COVID-19 isolation and treatment location.
• CMS is also waiving requirements under 42 CFR 483.90 to temporarily allow for rooms in a long-term care facility not normally used as a resident’s room, to be used to accommodate beds and residents for resident care in emergencies and situations needed to help with surge capacity. Rooms that may be used for this purpose include activity rooms, meeting/conference rooms, dining rooms, or other rooms, as long as residents can be kept safe, comfortable, and other applicable requirements for participation are met. This can be done so long as it is not inconsistent with a state’s emergency preparedness or pandemic plan, or as directed by the local or state health department.
•Training and Certification of Nurse Aides. CMS is waiving the requirements at 42 CFR 483.35(d) (with the exception of 42 CFR 483.35(d)(1)(i)), which require that a SNF and NF may not employ anyone for longer than four months unless they met the training and certification requirements under § 483.35(d). CMS is waiving these requirements to assist in potential staffing shortages seen with the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the health and safety of nursing home residents, CMS is not waiving 42 CFR § 483.35(d)(1)(i), which requires facilities to not use any individual working as a nurse aide for more than four months, on a full-time basis, unless that individual is competent to provide nursing and nursing related services. We further note that we are not waiving § 483.35(c), which requires facilities to ensure that nurse aides are able to demonstrate competency in skills and techniques necessary to care for residents’ needs, as identified through resident assessments, and described in the plan of care.
• Physician Visits in Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Facilities. CMS is waiving the requirement in 42 CFR 483.30 for physicians and non-physician practitioners to perform in person visits for nursing home residents and allow visits to be conducted, as appropriate, via telehealth options.
• Resident Transfer and Discharge. CMS is waiving requirements in 42 CFR 483.10(c)(5); 483.15(c)(3), (c)(4)(ii), (c)(5)(i) and (iv), (c)(9), and (d); and § 483.21(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i), and (b) (2)(i) (with some exceptions) to allow a long term care (LTC) facility to transfer or discharge residents to another LTC facility solely for the following cohortingpurposes: 1. Transferring residents with symptoms of a respiratory infection or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 to another facility that agrees to accept each specific resident, and is dedicated to the care of such residents; 2. Transferring residents without symptoms of a respiratory infection or confirmed to not have COVID-19 to another facility that agrees to accept each specific resident, and is dedicated to the care of such residents to prevent them from acquiring COVID-19; or 3. Transferring residents without symptoms of a respiratory infection to another facility that agrees to accept each specific resident to observe for any signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection over 14 days.
Federal Law Mandates Infectious Disease Control in Nursing Homes
Pursuant to 42 CFR § 483.80 Infection control.
(d) Influenza and pneumococcal immunizations –
(1) Influenza. The facility must develop policies and procedures to ensure that –
(2) Pneumococcal disease. The facility must develop policies and procedures to ensure that –
(f) Annual review. The facility will conduct an annual review of its IPCP and update their program, as necessary. [81 FR 68868, Oct. 4, 2016]
Due to the lack of staffing and concerns about health care workers the residents are not only at risk of the virus and its complications, but also the ongoing common form of neglect in elder care facilities including for example medication management and administration or injuries from fall and fractures. Most forms of elder abuse are preventable with proper care and supervision.
Kenneth LaBore April 1, 2020 April 2, 2020 Infectious Diseases (MRSA, C-Diff), Nursing Home Care Issues No Comments
← Pressure Injuries Sores Decubitus
Vulnerable Client at Butterfly Bound Care Sexual Abuse Allegations →