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UPCOMING WEBINAR OPPORTUNITIES
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Information for Nursing Facilities on Enhanced Barrier Precautions Recommendations
Join DOH and RCS for an hour-long webinar on the recently updated CDC recommendations for use of Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) in nursing facilities. EBP is an important tool to prevent the spread of multi-drug-resistant organisms in your facility. This webinar will include an overview of EBP and resources to assist you with implementation, information from RCS, and an extended opportunity for Q&A with our panelists. Please register in advance, and feel free to share with others SNF/NH providers who would be interested in attending.
Zoom Webinar is scheduled for:
Tuesday, Oct 25th 2 -3 pm | Attendee registration link
Wellbeing 360 | Self-Care for IPs
APIC is pleased to announce a new multi-week webinar series as part of their Wellbeing 360 program. Sessions include a trivia game, yoga, emotional intelligence, and more.
IPs continue to work tirelessly to serve their communities. As part of their ongoing effort to provide support for members, APIC has created new programs to help you find balance and recharge in 2022.
Multiple dates in October and November | Sign up today!
Wellbeing 360 Series: Finding Joy in Infection Prevention: Theory vs. Practice
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an incredibly challenging time for Infection Preventionists. Although burnout in health care is not new, the ongoing pandemic and monkeypox outbreak has increased the complexity of our work. This has led to crisis levels of exhaustion, burnout and turnover. If you are feeling this way, know you are not alone, and there are ways to get yourself and your team back on the path to wellness. In this session, two experienced IPs and researchers (Heather Gilmartin, PhD, NP, CIC and Sarah Smathers, MPH, CIC, FAPIC) will share their stories about working during COVID-19 and simple things anyone can do to find some joy in Infection Prevention.
Webinar is scheduled for: October 17th 2 PM ET | Save your spot!
Washington State Chapter of NADONA/LTC- Nurse's Supporting Nurses
Are you a Director of Nursing in a skilled nursing facility (SNF)? A wellness nurse in assisted living (AL)? Or a nurse manager in either of these settings? We have a panel of SNF and AL experts with a combined 100 years of experience! We will answer any questions you have - How to manage your labor budget, how to recruit and retain staff, moral boosters, how to implement a functional Nutrition at Risk Committee. Any and ALL questions. Yes, even Infection Control and COVID-19 questions. We will take questions prior to the webinar and also LIVE.
October 19th 2 PM central time | Register
APIC Puget Sound Virtual Conference
State and local experts will present on drivers of multidrug resistance and common risk factors Infection Preventionists need to understand in order to identify and prevent transmission within our facilities and throughout our communities.
October 28th 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM | $50 registration | Registration Information
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Oct 16-22 is International Infection Prevention Week
"The future is infection prevention: 50 years of infection prevention"
What will the next 50 years of infection prevention look like? How have the past 50 years shaped the landscape of infection prevention today? This year’s theme, developed by APIC's Communications Committee, is “The Future is Infection Prevention: 50 Years of Infection Prevention” APIC wants to highlight the important scientific breakthroughs of the last 50 years, the innovations of the future, and inspire the next generation of IPs to join the fight. We'll also be focusing on JOY this IIPW, so get ready to laugh and celebrate! Cheers to 50 years! Get ready for IIPW!
COVID
CMS Updates
CDC COVID Guidance
CDC’s What’s New & Updated tool is a helpful way to stay up-to-date with new and updated content on CDC’s COVID-19 webpages.
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GET FREE MATERIALS TO ENCOURAGE VACCINATION
The Power of Providers (POP) team is excited to announce the launch of a new ordering portal for POP members! The self-service portal allows you and your staff to order FREE promotional materials to encourage vaccination. You can get educational posters for your office, stickers for your patients, informative handouts, and much more.
To get started, join the Power of Providers Initiative. As a member of POP, you’ll benefit from consolidated access to current health care information, trainings, customized resources and now, the free promotional items your patients and clients will love.
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EBOLA
On September 20, 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) (Sudan virus) in western Uganda.
Public health officials should have established plans for how patients under investigation (PUIs) or EVD patients are to be managed and referred. HAI/AR Programs should consider reaching out to their health department preparedness counterparts to ensure mutual understanding of EVD response strategies, including the availability and status of designated EVD assessment and treatment centers.
RESOURCES
CDC Ebola website for clinicians
Key Precautions
MPV - MONKEYPOX
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Development and deployment of tools and rapid response notification of Monkeypox exposure, exposure risk assessment and stratification, and symptom monitoring. This article describes experience with a REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) tool that was designed to help identify healthcare personnel with possible exposure to monkeypox, to perform exposure risk assessment and stratification for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), and to conduct symptom monitoring during the exposure window. Enhancements included dashboards for HCP tracking and short message service (SMS text) reminders for symptom monitoring. Read more.
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Project First Line is a nationwide project supported by the CDC and the Washington State Department of Health to provide frontline healthcare workers with infection prevention and control education.
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The Project First Line Podcast, hosted by the Washington State Department of Health, is geared toward frontline healthcare workers to bring awareness to infection prevention and public health practices. We identify the importance and impact of infection prevention on our lives and on the lives of our community. |
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 Our long-term care visitation video survey is now available!
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TOPIC: Respiratory Protection
The DOH Occupational Health Team is hosting monthly 30-minute, Lunch & Learn sessions on specific respiratory protection topics. Sessions start promptly at 12:05 PM. Bring your topic questions to the session or email them ahead of time to HAI-FitTest@doh.wa.gov.
- October 19 – Medical Evaluation Referrals
- November 16 – Respirator Job Accommodations
- December 21 – Recordkeeping
- January 18, 2023 – Fit Testing Tips
For more information contact Stella Daniels, Occupational Health Team Supervisor.
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National Healthcare Safety Network
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Quarterly NHSN Workgroup
Please contact Sandy Ng for an invitation
All sessions are from 10:00 - 11:30 AM
January 10, 2023
April 11, 2023
July 11, 2023
October 10, 2023
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DOH partners bring COVID-19 vaccine clinics to state college campuses
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH)’s Care-A-Van program, in partnership with the Power of Providers (POP) Initiative will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinic at several college and university campuses across Washington state. In addition to students, faculty, and staff members, the clinics are also open to members of the public who are eligible for primary series or booster vaccinations. Clinic appointments can be made in advance by visiting the PrepMod website, and will also be available on a first-come, first-serve basis at each location.
- October 21, 11am-3pm: Central Washington University, Ellensburg
Difficult to Discharge Patients Hospitals have difficulties meeting their duties due to patients that they cannot discharged to PALTC. The governor has recently released several incentives to encourage relief on hospitals in discharging these patients. Health Care Authority will provide a one-time incentive per patient for long term care providers to accept patients from hospital inpatient settings.
Study Supports Boosters for Nursing Home Residents
A study recently published in the MMWR explores the published Effectiveness of a Second COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose against Infection, Hospitalization, or Death among Nursing Home Residents—19 States, March 29–July 25, 2022. In a large group of nursing home residents, receipt of a second mRNA COVID-19 booster dose during circulation of COVID-19 subvariants was 74% effective at 60 days against severe COVID-19 related outcomes (including hospitalization or death) and 90% against death alone compared with receipt of a single booster. You can find the whole article in the September 30 issue of MMWR.
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Comagine Health - Emergency Preparedness Plan Checklist. This checklist is designed to allow long-term care facilities perform a self-assessment for their readiness in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Emergency Preparedness Program.
Residential Care Services Long-term Care Quality Improvement Program Dear Provider letter is now available online.
International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) Toolkit - Ensure that APIC's message reaches the masses by sharing APIC's valuable resources through spreading the word in eNewsletters and social media. Check out the promotional toolkit for all the resources you need to participate.
CORHA/CSTE Proposed Investigation/Reporting Thresholds and Outbreak Definitions for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings- The thresholds and outbreak definitions presented in this document are based on available scientific resources and expert opinion and intended for potential adaptation to the local epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). Suggested thresholds are intended to expedite facilities’ investigation of COVID-19 cases and reporting to public health authorities, thus ensuring early detection of possible outbreaks and timely intervention to prevent the virus’ spread. Link to the resource here.
Local Health Department (LHD) Strategy Pilot: DHQP’s Program Strategy and Coordination Team (formerly the State Strategy Team) is looking for LHDs to participate in a pilot evaluating the Local Health Department Strategy for Response, Control, and Prevention of Healthcare Associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance. LHDs would review the strategy and, if interested, implement the strategy with the technical assistance of CDC and complete a survey providing additional feedback on the strategy and implementation process. State health departments will be notified of any participant interest from their jurisdiction. If you would like to get more information or if there is a LHD in your state that you would suggest for participation, please email SSET@cdc.gov.
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Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) Tool for General IPC Across Settings: A new ICAR Tool covering various IPC topics in acute care, long-term care, and outpatient facility settings is now available for early access to Health Departments on the HAI/AR SharePoint page (Requires a SAMS login). The tool includes a demographic section along with 10 modules covering a variety of infection prevention practices that may be used depending on the focus of the ICAR. The tools are currently available as Word Documents and are not yet in their final format. More information will be provided during an introductory webinar on October 14. Please e-mail teleicar@cdc.gov with any questions.
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 For more information visit the DOH ICAR webpage
 GOVERNOR’S PROCLAMATIONS RELATED TO COVID-19 ENDING OCTOBER 27
On July 29, Governor Inslee announced that several proclamations issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency will be rescinded, effective October 27, 2022. This includes proclamations 20-36, 20-52, 20-65, and 20-66, which waived and suspended rules and laws in long-term care settings.
HELSA not among the COVID-19 emergency orders ending Oct. 31. Governor Jay Inslee has announced plans to lift the COVID-19 state of emergency Oct. 31. Though the Washington state emergency orders are ending, coronavirus remains a workplace hazard and employers must take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Read more
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. This interim guidance has been updated based on currently available information about COVID-19 and the current situation in the United States. Updates were made to reflect the high levels of vaccine-and infection-induced immunity and the availability of effective treatments and prevention tools. This guidance provides a framework for facilities to implement select infection prevention and control practices (e.g., universal source control) based on their individual circumstances (e.g., levels of community transmission). Read more
Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Interim guidance has been updated as of September 23, 2022:
- In most circumstances, asymptomatic HCP with higher-risk exposures do not require work restriction.
- Updated recommendations for testing frequency to detect potential for variants with shorter incubation periods and to address the risk for false negative antigen tests in people without symptoms.
- Read more about interim guidance and previous updates
Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages. Maintaining appropriate staffing in healthcare facilities is essential to providing a safe work environment for healthcare personnel and safe patient care. The CDC provides information for healthcare facilities that are expecting or experiencing staffing shortages due to COVID-19. This guidance provides information on strategies to mitigate healthcare personnel staffing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State Board of Health has updated Chapter 246-101 WAC regarding notifiable conditions. The new rules will be effective 1/1/2023. The rules update which conditions must be reported, the timelines for reporting, to whom conditions must be reported, and more. The update also adds enhanced services facilities as a ‘health care facility’ and requires them to meet reporting requirements.
To review the rule text and learn about training opportunities, see the link here.
Questions can be sent to notifiableconditions@sboh.wa.gov.
Statewide 1135 Waiver Approved by CMS to Extend Nurse Aide Training and Certification Deadline. On September 29, 2022 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the statewide waiver valid until March 29, 2023 (180 days), or until the end of the public health emergency (PHE), whichever comes first.
The Education and Guidance Development (EGD) team the within DOH's Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) section has created three templates regarding Pathogens of Epidemiological Concern to assist hospitals in implementing HB1739: Risk Assessment | Gap Analysis | Prevention and Control Policy
Extrapulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: Recommendations for Healthcare Outbreak Response. This updated document outlines the thresholds and outbreak definition for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM. Contents include recommended practices for healthcare outbreak response from outbreak detection and reporting, investigation and control, and a variety of helpful resources. CORHA, August 2022. Read more
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You are subscribed to Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI&AR) Newsletter for Washington State Department of Health. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
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If you aren't already signed up for the Healthcare Associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance newsletter, please visit the Department of Health's email subscribers page here. |
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