Blog
Maine DHHS releases new crisis staffing guidance
- By: Danielle Watford
- On: 01/13/2022 12:32:16
- In: Quality/Regulatory
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