Check out DOH's updated Website
DOH continues to update guidance documents for healthcare settings to align with CDC recommendations and national guidelines
Recently updated documents include:
Interim COVID-19 Outbreak Definition for Healthcare Settings
- Updated to align with CSTE/COHRA outbreak definition
Visitor Guidance: Inpatient Hospital and Outpatient Settings
- Updated to reflect that visitors should not visit healthcare facilities until 10 days from COVID-19 illness
- Updated to reflect that visitors not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines should not visit healthcare facilities until 10 days from COVID exposure, or 7 days with a negative test
SARS-CoV-2 Source Control in Healthcare Settings
- Updated to align with CDC removal of language indicating that facemask is acceptable alternative to respirator when caring for patients with COVID-19. Use of facemask for care of patients with COVID-19 is still included as a crisis capacity strategy for N95.
Interim Guidance for Long-Term Care: Transferring between Long-Term Care and other Healthcare Settings
- Updated to reflect that residents not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines newly admitted should quarantine for 10 days or 7 days with a negative test
- Updated to no longer recommend pausing admission as long as the LTCF can safely admit and the resident (POA/guardian) is made aware of the COVID status in the facility
Please contact Larissa Lewis with guidance questions. Direct any outbreak definition questions to HAIEpiOutbreakTeam@doh.wa.gov.
Dialysis Updates
CDC's Making Dialysis Safer For Patients Coalition
WA DOH HAI& AR section has joined the CDC's Making Dialysis Safer For Patients Coalition. Access the Coalition's page for webinars, newsletters, and other resources to address patient safety in dialysis settings.
Infection Prevention and Control in Dialysis Settings Training
DOH has been working with CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality and Promotion to organize a training on outbreak response and infection prevention and control in dialysis settings. LHJs with more than 3 dialysis facilities in their jurisdiction were invited for the first offering of this training. DOH is exploring additional training opportunities for future cohorts.
Part 1 (Day 1): covered dialysis basics such as facility layouts, patient accesses, and treatment types, as well as procedures performed in outpatient dialysis as it relates to infection prevention. The training also looked at infection prevention tools and how to use them when performing site visits.
Part 2 (Day 2): utilized several case scenarios to conceptualize and practiced what was learned in Part 1.
Learning Objectives:
- Introduce the learner to the dialysis facility environment and describe the basic principles of IPC in the dialysis setting
- Review utilization of CDC tools to conduct dialysis facility visits
- Describe considerations for planning IPC assessments to identify gaps and improve practices
- Describe IPC best practices illustrated by different case scenarios
Please contact Beverly Burt for more information.
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