After working with the National Guard and inspectors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to make more than 200 unannounced visits to nursing homes throughout the state, the Connecticut Department of Health (DOH) recently reported that 20 of those nursing homes were found to have problems with COVID-19 infection control. The report indicated that there were major problems regarding improper notification within the facilities and to families, that residents were not observing proper physical distancing, and that personal protective equipment (PPE) was not being used and cleaned properly.
Currently, facilities are given time to review and dispute any deficiencies; however they are also required to develop and submit for approval by the DOH a plan of corrective action. Once those plans of correction are approved, the DOH will post them online. It was noted that many of the facilities have already started enhanced staff training and have been provided with additional deliveries of PPE.
The governor recently issued this statement, “Thanks to some amazing work, we’ve been able to source material. We’ve got a 60-day supply, and we’ve got shipments going out to our different nursing homes that have already arrived, and we’re going to keep going. I want to make sure we have a stockpile.”
Compliance Perspective
Failure to follow infection control guidelines issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the COVID-19 crisis; improper notification or lack of notification within a facility to staff, residents, and families; not having residents observe physical distancing; and failure to use and clean PPE properly may result in citations with required development and submission of plans of correction to the DOH.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures to ensure that the facility’s Infection Control Plan is adequate to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that the guidelines from CMS and the CDC are current and being followed.
- Train staff on the proper use and cleaning of PPE, requirements for residents to practice physical distancing, and the necessity of proper notification regarding COVID-19 to residents, staff members, and families.
- Periodically perform a self-assessment of compliance with CMS and CDC COVID-19 requirements. Monitor for implementation of any required corrective actions.
