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Archive January 2022

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ServSafe ® Food Safety course offered in several Maine communities

Do you have food service staff who would like to become ServSafe ® Certified?  David Suhr will be offering a number of ServSafe courses across the State over the next couple of months. 

The ServSafe Food Safety Program for Managers is a blend of the latest FDA Food Code, food safety research and years of food sanitation training experience, helping managers learn how to implement essential food safety practices and create a culture of food safety. ServSafe ® Certification is valid for a period of 5 years and recognized nationally. 

To register, you may visit his website  or contact David by email at dfssuhr@gmail.com or by phone at 207-329-0958.

Staff Contact: aellis@mehca.org

MHCA Work Force Committee reconvenes

On January 12, the MHCA Work Force Committee members met to discuss the current staffing crisis. The committee reviewed previous priorities and initiatives including reviving LPN programs in Maine, revising the CNA curriculum, allowing assisted living to be a clinical site, addressing reciprocal credentials for CNA, and the launch of the Why I Care for Maine Seniors social media campaign.
 
During the meeting, the committee also reviewed state and national data, discussed industry trends, and brainstormed ideas for staff recruitment and retention efforts. MHCA will also be repeating the staffing shortage survey from this past Fall so that we can collect updated data on workforce needs.
 
Committee members include:
 
Louis Dugal - High View Manor
Sandra Myers - Continuum Health Services
Doug Gardiner - North Country Associates
Gabrielle Herbig - Sweet Seniors
Amanda Nelson - Oak Grove Center
Craig Alaimo - Sedgewood Commons
Debra Fournier - Maine Veterans Homes
Tarsha Rodrigue - Maine General
Christine Riendeau - First Atlantic Healthcare
Jessica Duffy - Seventy-Five State Street

The committee is staffed by Angela Westhoff, President/CEO and Nadine Grosso, Vice President & Director of Communications.
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org

Maine DHHS releases new crisis staffing guidance

Today, Janaury 13, 2022 Maine DHHS DLC released updated crisis staffing guidance that replaces the previously released memo from September 24, 2021.

In today's memo, facilities are directed to update their emergency plans including their emergency staffing plans to address emergency level staffing and when they would utilize crisis staffing within their facility. DLC will be looking at emergency plans and facility emergency staffing plans going forward, especially in facilities that implement/use the CDC Crisis staffing of asymptomatic COVID-19 positive staff to ensure they are doing so consistent with their plans and U.S. CDC guidance and in a manner that does not increase virus spread among non-COVID-19 positive staff and residents.

MHCA will be revising already provided templates to align with this change. In a call with DLC Director William Montejo, he expressed that he and his team recognize that all facilities are working tirelessly to follow the pre-existing crisis staffing 'steps' outlined in previous staffing guidance and this new memo should help by eliminating the burden of having to call Maine CDC or DHHS DLC when an extreme staffing crisis exists. Facilities now have the ability to enact crisis staffing of asymptomatic COVID-19 positive staff without CDC/DHHS approval consistent with US CDC guidance.

MHCA strongly encourages homes to revise their crisis plans and emergency staffing plans accordingly and ensure that references to the US CDC guidance is included in their plans.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with additional questions.

Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org

 

CMS Administrator’s National Stakeholder Call – January 18, 2022 – to highlight strategic vision

On Tuesday, January 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and her leadership team will provide updates on the CMS Strategic Vision, key 2021 accomplishments, and 2022 goals.  

The Administrator’s vision is for CMS to serve the public as a trusted partner and steward dedicated to advancing health equity, expanding coverage, and improving health outcomes as CMS engages the communities it serves throughout the policymaking and implementation process. CMS invites you to join this second national stakeholder call to learn more about how you can partner with us as we implement our vision. 
 
When: January 18, 2022, 1 PM - 1:45 PM ET 

Speakers: 
  • CMS Administrator, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure 
  • Principal Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer, Jon Blum 
  • CMS Leadership Team 
Register for the call. 
 
Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org
 

USCIS announces expedited processing of EAD Renewal Applications thanks to AHCA/NCAL

In an AHCA/NCAL led Coalition letter to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Coalition noted that the U.S. currently has a labor shortage in many sectors, especially the health care industry. One issue is the significant delay in USCIS processing Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewals. Some employees have had to stop working due to USCIS not timely processing the EAD renewals, while others are at risk of soon losing work authorization due to the delays. 
 
On December 28th, USCIS announced that “Effective immediately, if you are a healthcare worker who has a pending Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewal application (Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization) and your EAD expires in 30 days or less or has already expired, you can request expedited processing of your EAD application.” USCIS referenced a DHS advisory memorandum (“Healthcare / Public Health” section, pages 7-9) which lists critical healthcare occupations. The USCIS noted that an applicant will need to be prepared to provide evidence of profession or current employment as a healthcare worker to request the expedited processing. A request to expedite can be made by the applicant or his/her attorney by calling USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).
  
This change is the direct result of your membership dues at work at the national level. MHCA thanks the advocacy team at AHCA/NCAL for its efforts on this workforce initiative. For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit uscis.gov

Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org

UNE medical student research survey

Christian Noblett is a 4th year Osteopathic Medical Student at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is conducting a research study to find out more about the sentiment surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine. Your participation in this anonymous, brief survey is completely voluntary.
 
Access the survey here: https://redcap.une.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=KD7YKW9LJK
 
Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org

MHCA pleased to announce 2022 Remember ME program

MHCA is currently accepting nominations for one of its most popular programs, the Remember ME photography exhibit and lifetime achievement awards. The exhibit will once again feature black and white photographs, accompanied by brief biographies, of residents living in your facilities. In 2020, MHCA held virtual recognition events to present the Certificates of Lifetime Achievement. Due to the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, we will wait until Spring to make a determination about a live ceremony this year.
 
To nominate your resident, please go to the following link and click on the nomination form box where you will complete the form. To avoid losing your work, copy and paste full narrative from Word. Submissions must be completed in one session. Partial nominations will not be saved.
   
We are looking for pioneering, innovative residents who meet any of the following criteria:
  • Residents with historically significant backgrounds;
  • Residents who have had unique or interesting accomplishments either while living in the facility or prior to admission;
  • Residents who have overcome either personal or health-related obstacles to achieve;
  • Residents who have served community, state or country (through volunteerism, civic organizations or US military); OR
  • Residents who are considered pillars of the local community.
In fairness to all, we ask you to nominate only one resident from a facility. When considering a candidate, please be sure the resident is willing to be photographed by our professional vendors if he or she is selected. We understand there may be unforeseen circumstances, like illness, that may preclude getting a current photo when the time comes, but residents/families/POAs should be agreeable to the photography heading into the project. We will follow all applicable infection control procedures to ensure a safe photo shoot, i.e. masking, social distancing, etc. This will include requiring residents to be as close to entry points and natural light as possible to avoid having photographers move throughout your communities.
 
Join us again in putting the “human face” on long term care. Please be sure to submit your nomination on line by January 28, 2022.
 
Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org

CDC Webinar TODAY: Quarantine and Isolation Guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated COVID-19 quarantine and isolation recommendations for healthcare and non-healthcare settings. During this webinar, presenters from the CDC will discuss the science supporting these changes, the populations, and settings to which these changes apply, and additional precautions people should take at the end of quarantine or isolation.
  • Title: Updates to CDC’s COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidelines in Healthcare and Non-healthcare Settings
  • Date: Thursday, January 13, 2022
  • Time: 2 PM – 3 PM ET

Registration is not required. Click here to join a few minutes before the webinar begins.

Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org

Avoiding NHSN Data Reporting Errors: AHCA Resource Tool Available

AHCA has released a two page tooltip to address common pit falls facilities may experience in the NHSN reporting requirement. As you know the following are required reporting pathways:
  • Resident Impact and Facility Capacity
  •  Staff and Personnel Impact
  • Supplies and PPE
  • Therapeutics
  • COVID-19 Vaccine for Residents
  • COVID-19 Vaccine for Staff
Please review this tool and share with the individual(s) within your homes that are responsible for reporting data into the NHSN platform.

Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org

CMS updates LTC Visitation Guide for Families/Residents during Omicron Surge

As of January 6, 2022, the Nursing Home Visitation FAQs have been updated to provide additional guidance about visitation during the Omicron surge. CMS has also created an infographic to graphically represent how to safely conduct visits to nursing homes during this time of spiking COVID cases around the country. These two new resources are available for nursing home providers, residents, caregivers, and CMS partners to stay informed about CMS’ latest thinking for keeping nursing homes safe in the current COVID climate.

MHCA suggests that member homes review these resources and consider their use when communicating with residents and families regarding visitation during COVID-19 surge conditions. 

Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
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