When non-medical outings occur the following control protocols should be maintained:
The resident(s) and the driver should both wear a face covering over both the mouth and nose for the entire outing.
Any facility staff involved must wear surgical masks and protective eyewear.
In general, depending on the size of the group, no other person but the resident(s) and the driver should be in the vehicle, and social distancing should be maintained between all parties. All parties should wear a face covering over both the mouth and nose.
https://www.nehca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NHCA_CMYK512x170.jpg00Cindy Kadavyhttps://www.nehca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NHCA_CMYK512x170.jpgCindy Kadavy2021-04-12 14:41:562021-04-12 14:43:36Non-Medical Trips and Home Visits
When home visits occur, the following infection control protocols should be maintained:
Whenever possible, social distancing (6-feet) or use of face coverings over both the mouth and nose should be maintained by all parties.
Family gatherings should be limited to no more than eight people.
Family members residing in the home who have tested positive for COVID, have signs or symptoms of the virus, or who have been exposed to a person with COVID should be isolated. Family members not residing in the home who have tested positive for COVID, have signs or symptoms of the virus, or who been exposed to a person with COVID should not attend the family gathering.
https://www.nehca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NHCA_CMYK512x170.jpg00Cindy Kadavyhttps://www.nehca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NHCA_CMYK512x170.jpgCindy Kadavy2021-04-12 14:20:052021-04-12 14:20:45Home Visits Away from the Facility 2
Many nursing facility and assisted living residents wish to go on non-medical outings or
home visits away from the facility with a friend or family member-including to celebrate
the holiday(s).
Non-medical outings and home visits should only occur when a facility is eligible to
facilitate indoor visitation (i.e. not in outbreak status and county positivity is color-coded
yellow or green).
If indoor visitation is prohibited beyond compassionate care (i.e. in outbreak status or
county positivity is color-coded red), non-medical trips and home visits away from the
facility should not occur.
https://www.nehca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NHCA_CMYK512x170.jpg00Cindy Kadavyhttps://www.nehca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NHCA_CMYK512x170.jpgCindy Kadavy2021-04-12 14:15:562021-04-12 14:16:36Guidance for Non-Medical Trips and Home Visits Away from the Facility
The joint Nebraska Health Care Association and LeadingAge Nebraska webinars featuring guests from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services are held each Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. CT. NHCA will continue to share responses to survey-related member questions and other guidance, as provided by DHHS.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Facebook Live
On March 4, Becky Wisell and Dan Taylor, DHHS Division of Public Health, discuss federal and state guidance on visitation in skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities and respond to pre-submitted questions from family members.
Throughout 2020, Nebraska Health Care Association, in partnership with LeadingAge Nebraska, held COVID-19 member connections each Friday. As of January 2021, these connections have been consolidated with the Wednesday DHHS member connections. Following are the recordings of prior sessions.
Panel Discussion with Minnesota Essential Caregiver Program Providers
The President and CEO of Care Providers of Minnesota and two providers who have implemented an Essential Caregiver Program in their facilities provide insight into their experiences in this webinar on Dec. 16.
Nebraska’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution to Long-Term Care Webinar
The Nebraska Health Care Association (NHCA) and LeadingAge Nebraska arranged representatives from CVS, Walgreens, DHHS and Community Pharmacy to present a webinar on Friday, Dec. 11.
OSHA Webinar: Common OSHA Issues Affecting Employers During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a host of new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) related issues for employers, particularly in the health care industry. In this webinar, Mathew T. Watson, attorney with McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp, P.C., L.L.O, discusses recent enforcement actions by OSHA which provide helpful guidance on how OSHA intends to address COVID-19 reporting requirements, provision and use of proper personal protective equipment, and other hazards posed by COVID-19.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has allocated $250 million for the Project ECHO Nursing Home Infection Control Program. Although few details are available at this time, it appears this funding is going to establish educational hubs across the country to support small groups of interested nursing facilities that will be paid to participate in a 16-week series of educational webinars highlighting best practices in infection control.
Reportedly, 140 academic institutions and over 6,000 nursing facilities have expressed interest in participating in this program. To find out more about how this program can benefit Nebraska’s nursing facilities, plan to participate in this informational webinar, Sept. 15, at 10:00 a.m. CT.
NHCA COVID-19 Phasing Best Practices Member Connection
For three consecutive Thursdays in June and July, Nebraska Health Care Association invited members to join a Zoom connection to learn more about COVID-19 Phasing Best Practices and to share innovative ideas for protecting the health and safety of residents and staff while loosening restrictions associated with visitation, communal dining, and activities. The connections were hosted by the Co-Chairs of the NNFA/NALA Quality and Regulatory Committee, Chay Indra and Kelly Darling.
Thursday, July 9 Best Practices – Recording and Handouts
NHCA Webinar – Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Reporting Update
In this webinar, Cindy Kadavy, NHCA Senior Vice President of Policy, Research, and Reimbursement, will review the new mandatory reporting requirements for nursing facilities and assisted living, as well as the requirements that are mandatory for nursing facilities and optional for assisted living.
In this webinar, Bob J. Dick Jr., CPA, CVA, Director of Bland and Associates explains how to substantiate funds received from the CMS relief fund and Paycheck Protection Program, and provides an overview on the need to record expenses related to COVID-19.
Through the COVID-19 journey of restrictions and health safety, activity professionals continue to provide quality of life and meaningful engagements to older adults across the spectrum of care. Activity professionals must be more diligent than ever before in thinking outside the box, being creative, and resourceful to meet the needs of residents. This session includes a brief overview of CMS regulations for activity engagement and implementation, resources for activities to meet the needs of residents, and an opportunity to network and share best practices, ideas, and additional resources.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in association with the Nebraska Infection Control Assessment and Promotion Program (ICAP) will host several weekly webinars on COVID-19 specific to post-acute and long-term care facilities in Nebraska on Thursdays at 12:00 p.m. CT. Access recordings and slides here.
Nebraska Medicaid Quarterly Calls
Medicaid and Long-Term Care will be hosting its next quarterly nursing facility call on Monday, Dec. 14 at 2:00 p.m. CT. Learn more here.
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak occurring in Nebraska and across the country, Nebraska Medicaid has hosted regular conference calls through 2020 to provide updates on our response to COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are monitoring and tracking the outbreak of the respiratory illness Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Nebraska Health Care Association will continue to communicate the latest information. Nebraska case information and public health response can be found on the DHHS website.
NEW! Nebraska Crisis Standards of Care Guidance
Source: The Center for Preparedness Education, A Joint Endeavor Between Creighton University School of Medicine and University of Nebraska Medical Center
COVID-19 Healthcare Planning Checklist
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention This page will be updated regularly at noon Mondays through Fridays. Numbers close out at 4 p.m. the day before reporting.
