In a recent news conference, Pennsylvania’s governor highlighted the work that the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the National Guard are doing to provide relief for nursing home staff. He also said that the two organizations have been instrumental in the state’s preparedness and response to COVID-19.
Teams comprised of 1,200 dedicated service members that include physician assistants, nurses, medics, and general-purpose forces are assisting nursing staff with testing, training, and decontamination of the facilities. They are using mobile testing units to test for the Coronavirus in long-term care facilities and to train staff members in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Nursing homes across the country have become a kind of “ground zero” for the COVID-19 crisis. In Pennsylvania, 13,626 of the state’s 63,056 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 3,086 deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities.
The National Guard has been working with PEMA, the Department of Health, and the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania to establish a medical planning team to coordinate efforts for long-term care facilities support.
The director of Military Support for the Pennsylvania National Guard made this statement about teams: “It’s an honor for us to work side by side with other long-term care staff to serve this vulnerable population. To date, we have provided over 3,500 days of staffing support to 10 long-term care facilities, and are currently still supporting five facilities.”
The governor also reported that PEMA has helped Pennsylvania tap into federal programs like the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System. This system helps health care providers and first responders stretch PPE by being able to safely decontaminate and reuse N95 masks. The governor encouraged more facilities to take advantage of this service.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
Nursing homes have been forced to deal with the overwhelming effect COVID-19 has brought in terms of the contagious aspect of the virus, with their residents comprising the most vulnerable population group for the disease. Regulations require cohorting of residents with the virus along with their caregivers, staffing is impacted, there is a shortage of PPE for protecting staff members, and the reality of isolation and death has caused a significant emotional effect for both residents and staff.
Discussion Points
- Review policies and procedures regarding the facility’s Infection Control Plan along with implementing all state and federal guidelines that have been issued for COVID-19. Additionally, determine if your state has National Guard teams available to assist in testing, training, management of PPE, and environmental cleansing.
- Train staff regarding proper use of PPE, handwashing, and following the Infection Control Plan’s protocols for decontamination of the facility.
- Periodically audit to ensure that staff are following state and federal guidelines regarding COVID-19 and have sufficient PPE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC view: COVID-19 FACILITY PREPAREDNESS SELF-ASSESSMENT and HAND HYGIENE GUIDELINES FOR HEALTHCARE SETTINGS
