Recently health inspectors were told to focus on infection-control programs in nursing homes, especially those with identified cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The deaths of five residents in a Washington nursing home who contacted COVID-19 instigated the dispatching of inspectors to the facility to determine whether infection control protocols had been followed by staff members.
The administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reiterated how “hyper-focused” CMS is on infection control due to COVID-19. She said, “Our role in this is to say, ‘Were there some breaches of protocol? Was this facility following the guidelines that are in place? Was there handwashing? Were they changing gloves? Were they doing laundry appropriately? Was food handled appropriately?'”
Nursing home leaders expressed their support for the inspection directive along with their concerns about other issues like potential shortages of supplies (masks and gowns) if the virus continues to spread.
CMS also issued direction explaining that nursing homes have the right to bar visitors as part of their efforts to protect residents from infections. They also advised that if visitors have traveled to certain countries within the preceding 14 days or had symptoms of respiratory illness, the nursing home should prevent those persons from visiting.
Compliance Perspective
Failure by all departments to observe infection control protocols or obtain needed personal protective equipment to meet the infection control needs of COVID-19 or any other infectious organism, and failure to screen/disallow visitors who may have traveled to countries where the coronavirus has spread in the last 14 days or who have symptoms of a respiratory illness may be considered jeopardizing the lives of residents and deemed provision of substandard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points
- Review policies and procedures regarding not only the facility’s Infection Control Program but also using infection prevention protocols in every aspect of resident care and services, as well as screening/banning certain visitors.
- Train staff in all aspects of the Infection Control Program and the application of those protocols however they pertain to the various departments.
- Periodically audit to ensure that every department is following the infection control protocols.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC: INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL PLAN
