Coronavirus Updates & Resources

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MHCA Created Resources

• MHCA Example Testing Policy
• Sample Respiratory Protection Plan
• Hand Hygiene Competency
• Basic Infection Prevention Strategies during PPE Shortages
• Top Tens Things to do Once You have a Positive COVID Case
• MEMA District Liaison Contacts for PPE Requests

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Obtaining PPE

• AHCA/NCAL PPE Supplier List (MHCA' group purchasing vendors highlighted in green boxes) (10/22/20)

Proper Use of PPE

• OSHA Respiratory Physical Exam Questionnaire
• USM No Cost PPE Training (04/10/20)
• CDC Informational Videos on Proper PPE Usage
• Free N-95 Respirator Education for Direct Care (03/16/20)

Updated PPE Resources

• Please note that the PPE request process for the COVID-19 event has changed. All organizations are now directed to submit PPE requests to their County Emergency Management Agency.
• 05/22/2020 - Important Information about COVID-19 Testing Capacity at the State Lab (PDF)
• 05/21/2020 - Guidance on Ordering Swabs and Viral Transport Media (PDF)

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Testing Updated Guidance

Testing

• Covid Testing Vendors
• FAQ HETL eTOR and Submission of Covid-19 v.1.1
• HETL Lab Web Portal (LWP) Quick Start Guide v.4
• AHCA/NCAL List of COVID-19 Testing Vendors for LTC (12/07/20)

Resource Material for Testing

• Revised Testing Options for Nursing Facility Staff Testing (PDF)
• Examples for Sequencing Antigen and PCR Tests (PDF)
• Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory Electronic Test Ordering and Reporting Portal (ME-HETL ETOR) User Guide (PDF)
• HETL Frequently Asked Questions for ETOR and Submitting COVID-19 Specimens (PDF) 
• COVID-19 Testing Vendors for LTC (PDF)
• Abbott BinaxNOW Ag Test Card Guidance (PDF)
• BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Test Card Expiry Update (PDF)

Vaccinations

• COVID-19 Vaccines: Get the Facts! (01/28/21)
• CDC COVID Vaccine Updates on Allergic Rxns and Analphylaxsis (12/30/20)
• CDC Communication Toolkit
• Vaccine Information
• Answering Residents’ Vaccine Questions
• COVID-19 Vaccination Program Operational Guidance
• Healthcare Professionals: Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccination
• Pfizer Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet

Maine DHHS/OADS Guidance

• 08/11/2021 - OADS DHHS Call PPT from August 11, 2021
• 06/29/2021 - COVID-19 Guidance for Re-Opening In-Person Community Support, Adult Day Health, Work and Career Services (PDF)
• 05/11/2021 - Domestic Travel Work Restrictions Decision Tree for Healthcare Workers (PDF)
• 05/05/2021 - Guidance for Staff Testing and Community Engagement for Assisted Housing Facilities (PDF)
• 05/24/2021 - Table 3-A. Guidance for Staff Testing and Community Engagement for Assisted Housing Facilities  (Applies to Group A) (PDF)
• 05/24/2021 - Table 3-B. Guidance for Staff Testing and Community Engagement for Assisted Housing Facilities (Applies to Group B) (PDF)
• 03/19/2021 - Visitation and Applicability of Recent Federal CDC and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People (PDF)
• Maine DLC Clarification on Admissions (01/26/21)
• Covid-19 Healthcare Risk Reduction Checklist (11/17/20) 
• LTC Covid-19 Self Assessment (11/17/20)
• Email to coordinate staff testing through Maine HETL Lab: covidtesting@maine.gov
• Maine HETL COVID Swabs and Transport Media Chart
• CDC Specimen Collection Chart
• OASH nasal spec fact sheet (all words)
• IDSA table with all types of swabs with instructions (written)
• Anterior Nares collection guide

Visitation Resources

• Visitation Guidance

Educational Training Resources

Maine Infection Prevention Forum (More training videos will be posted here soon)

• Respiratory Protection Program & PPE Supply Strategies Tutorial
• Exposure Investigations Tutorial and Checklist

• End to NH Administrator License Waivers March 2021 (02/04/21)

Maine DHHS Division of Licensing has stated that existing state waivers that were enacted during the Maine State of Emergency will continue for 60 days from the conclusion of the end of the state of emergency; however, if facilities would like to request extended waivers through the duration of the federal state of emergency they will need to submit a facility specific request letter identifying the waivers they wish to extend. MHCA has provided a template request letter here (Word file). (07/07/21)

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MHCA Daily Covid-19 Briefings

MHCA has discountinued the COVID-19 Briefings; however, please use this link to check the COVID-19 section of the E-News blog page for continued information releveant to ever-changing COVID guidance.

Archived MHCA Daily Covid Briefings

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AHCA Communication

• AHCA/NCAL: COVID-19 Update - CMS Will Not Enforce Vaccine Mandate During Preliminary Court Injunctions (12/03/21)
• AHCA/NCAL: COVID-19 Update - COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Staff on Hold Nationwide (11/30/21)
• AHCA/NCAL: COVID-19 Update - Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction in Ten States for CMS Staff Vaccine Rule (11/29/21)
• AHCA/NCAL: COVID-19 Update - CMS Issues 1135 Waiver for Director of Food and Nutrition Services (11/24/21)
• AHCA/NCAL: COVID-19 Update - HRSA Releases ARP Rural Distribution (11/23/21)
• AHCA/NCAL: COVID-19 Update - ACT NOW to Prepare for the CMS Vaccine Mandate (11/23/21)
• AHCA/NCAL: COVID-19 Update - Today: Register for AHCA/NCAL Vaccine Mandate Exemptions Webinar (11/22/21)

Archived AHCA Covid Updates​

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Staffing

• FrontLine Warmline Poster - English (8.5x11) (08/06/20)
• FrontLine Warmline Poster - English (11x17) (08/06/20)
• FrontLine Warmline Poster - Multi-Language (8.5x11) (08/06/20)
• FrontLine Warmline Poster - Multi-Language (11x17) (08/06/20)
• The Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 document provides guidance on when healthcare workers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can return to work, and includes options for basing this decision on test-based criteria and non-test-based criteria. There is additional guidance on what precautions these healthcare workers need to take when they return to work.
• The Discontinuation of Home Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 document provides options for basing discontinuation decisions on test-based criteria and non-test-based criteria.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• PPE and Testing Supply Request Form (08/21) (Excel)
• HAN (08/21)
• ME CDC FAQs (08/10/21) (PowerPoint)
• CDC

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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

• CMS Link to QSO

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Communications/Media Relations

• Crisis Communication in an Infectious Diseases Outbreak (04/03/20)
• When COVID Gets into Your Facility (04/03/20)
• Infection Control Statement and Talking Points for Confirmed COVID-19 Case (03/30/20)

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Advanced Care Planning

• Resources on ACP from Respecting Choices
• Maine POLST Form
• Maine Advanced Directives Form
• Transfer Protocol for Nursing Homes MFDA

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