OPIC Monthly Newsletter

Issue 4                                                                    June 22, 2023

 Guidance Updates

• Bookmark this overview of all active COVID-19 AFLs, and all expired AFLs.
• Order of the State Public Health Officer - Adult Care Facilities and Direct Care Worker Vaccine Requirement is no longer active. Meaning, CMS will no longer require HCP to have the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
• PIN 23-12-ASC, effective July 1, 2023, the Infection Control regulations are permanently adopted of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 22, Division 6, Infection Control regulations for Adult and Senior Care licensees
  • Chapter 2, Social Rehabilitation Facilities (SRF), Section 81095.5
  • Chapter 3, Adult Day Programs (ADP), Section 82095.5
  • Chapter 6, Adult Residential Facilities (ARF), Section 85095.5
  • Chapter 8, Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE), Section 87470
  • Chapter 8.5, Residential Care Facilities for the Chronically Ill (RCFCI), Section 87895.5
• PIN 23-13-ASC provides information on the end of the vaccination and booster requirement for all workers in Adult and Senior Care (ASC) facilities and the end of the masking requirement in ASC facilities. This PIN also provides the latest guidance to ASC licensees on screening, testing, isolation and quarantine, visitation, and infection control requirements.

• SARS-CoV-2, Influenza Virus and RSV Result Reporting 
• Report results electronically to the CalREDIE system within 24 hrs. 
• Facilities certified under CLIA to perform non-waived testing must report:
  • All laboratory-based SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) results, including positive and non-positive (negative, indeterminate, etc.) and are requested to report all RSV NAAT results, including positive and non-positive (negative, indeterminate, etc.).
  • All SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus non-NAAT diagnostic testing (e.g., high throughput antigen testing) results, including positive and nonpositive results of and are requested to report RSV non-NAAT diagnostic testing results, including positive and non-positive (negative, indeterminate, etc.).
• Facilities conducting testing with a CLIA Certificate of Waiver (e.g., skilled nursing facilities, schools):
  • Reporting of positive and non-positive results for SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, and RSV is not required.

Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) News, Resources, and Trainings

• New tool: CDPH HAI created an Interfacility Transfer Communications Guide. Please review. 

• Training Tuesday June 27th: Marin County Nursing Home Virtual Train-the-Trainer Workshop: Enhanced Standard Precautions
  • Description: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program and Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG) invite all Marin County skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to participate in this Enhanced Standard Precautions (ESP) train-the-trainer workshop on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This session will review CDPH HAI Program guidance for ESP implementation to reduce the risk of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) acquisition among high-risk residents in SNFs. This session will also review how to identify high-risk residents, develop a plan to educate stakeholders, and implement ESP strategies. 
  • Participating SNFs in Marin County should designate and register 2–4 representatives to attend this 90-minute workshop (i.e., IP, DON, DSD, NHA, Corporate Leadership). Following completion of this workshop, trainees will be expected to train SNF staff on the ESP practices taught in the workshop. This training is a repeat of the ESP trainings that were provided statewide the week of May 15-19, 2023. If you attended that training, additional CEUs are not available for the same training. 
    • More information about that training can be found HERE
    • Register HERE

• Enhanced Standard Precautions Readiness Checklist

• Infection Prevention Training for Multi Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) Dr. Lael Duncan’s training 4/4/23: View the RECORDING.

Marin Updates

Here is a link to the current list of approved and permitted private ambulance providers authorized to perform ambulance transports here in Marin County. NorCal Ambulance is the only provider with an ambulance base here in Marin; however, the other providers are in adjoining counties and often have ambulances in Marin throughout the day.

 Public Health Advisory
Marin County Public Health issued this advisory to healthcare providers regarding the increasing availability and use of hemp products that cause intoxication and adverse effects, especially in youth.
 

Public Health Surveillance Dashboards

• Reportable Disease Dashboard (non-COVID-19)

• Respiratory Illness Surveillance (non-COVID-19)

• COVID-19 Disease Dashboard

Great opportunity! NHICS Training & TTX. Open to all sites.

Please join us on Zoom for our rescheduled NHICS Tabletop Exercise & Training
Thursday, June 29^th 1:00-2:30pm! 

The County of Marin’s Public Health Preparedness’s department is excited to partner with Ray Boudewyn from Prevent and Prepare, LLC for our Nursing Home Incident Command System’s (NHICS) training! It would be most beneficial if you have more than 1 person attend this training from your facility for the Tabletop Exercise. 

To register for the training, please email: LTCFReport@marincounty.org to receive the zoom meeting invitation and link. 

Facility Evacuation: Lessons Learned 

Training held May 4, 2023: RECORDING

Virtual Infection Prevention Train the Trainer Workshops, by CDPH
Trainings are repeated four times per week for each workshop topic to accommodate schedules. Choose one day/time per workshop topic to attend.

Certified Nursing Assistant IPC Curriculum
Multiple offerings: July 17-21
Register HERE

EVS IPC Curriculum for EVS Managers
Multiple Offerings: August 21-15
Register HERE

Medical Redeterminations

Continuous coverage and enrollment in Medi-Cal is ending, along with the end of the Public Health Emergency. That means, anyone enrolled in Medi-Cal will be receiving a redetermination packet, and that will need to be completed. If their paperwork is not completed, the person will lose their Medi-Cal. Please help beneficiaries report contact information changes, so they receive paperwork at the right address. Call Center: 877-410-8817 and BenefitsCal.com. 

MORE evidence that routine vaccine is particularly important for our elderly; this report describes durability of protection for bivalent COVID-19 vaccination among immunocompromised adults: Estimates of Bivalent mRNA Vaccine Durability in Preventing COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization and Critical Illness Among Adults with and Without Immunocompromising Conditions
 

Improving Communication From Hospital to Skilled Nursing Facility Through Standardized Hand-Off: A Quality Improvement Project 
 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray (Narcan) for over the counter (OTC) nonprescription use. This action allows the life-saving medication to reverse an opioid overdose to be sold directly to consumers. For the specific provisions that must be followed by licensees and staff at adult or senior care facilities, please see PIN 19-20-ASC – The California Overdose Treatment Act.