Table 1.
Number of Skilled Nursing Facilities Implementing COVID-19 IPC Recommendations Using the Telephone IPC Assessment Checklist
| IPC Elements Assessed | No. (%) |
|---|---|
| Facility restrictions and health checks | |
| Implemented state required suspension of all visitation, expect essential visitors | 92/92 (100) |
| Facility performing active health checks including temperature monitoring for everyone entering the building | 92/92 (100) |
| All staff performing health checks are wearing face masks | 92/92 (100) |
| Facility has cancelled group activities and communal dining | 87/92 (95) |
| Signs posted on front of the facility advising no visitors | 89/92 (97) |
| Essential visitors are required to wear a face mask and remain in the resident’s room | 92/92 (100) |
| Staff with symptoms or temperature ≥37.8°C (100.0°F) are sent home | 90/92 (98) |
| Personal protective equipment (PPE) | |
| Universal masking throughout the facility with a N95 or face mask | 88/92 (96) |
| ABHR are easily accessible throughout the facility | 65/92 (71) |
| Staff have PPE to implement contact and droplet precautions | 80/92 (87) |
| Necessary PPE is available immediately outside resident rooms | 81/92 (88) |
| Signs posted immediately outside resident rooms indicate appropriate transmission-based precautions and the required PPE | 68/92 (74) |
| Trash disposal bins should be positioned near the exit of resident rooms | 81/92 (88) |
| Ensure EPA-registered hospital grade disinfectants are available for frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces and shared resident equipment | 83/91 (91) |
| Identification and management of ill residents in the facilities | |
| A process is in place to identify and manage all residents with symptoms of respiratory infections daily | 88/92 (96) |
| Residents wear a face mask when HCP or other care providers enter their rooms, unless such is not tolerable | 77/92 (84) |
| Implement active monitoring of all residents on affected units once per shift. Monitoring must include symptom checks, vitals, lung auscultation, and pulse oximetry | 78/92 (85) |
| All residents in affected units remain in their rooms as feasible | 86/92 (93) |
| Do not float staff between units | 66/92 (72) |
| Occupational health | |
| The facility instructs staff to regularly monitor themselves for fever and symptoms of respiratory infections, as part of routine practice | 87/92 (95) |
| Facility is monitoring staff absenteeism for increased numbers and assessing the reasons | 89/92 (97) |
| Communications | |
| Communication of interfacility transfer for residents with respiratory symptoms/suspect COVID-19; notify EMS transfer personnel and receiving facilities. | 88/92 (96) |
| Proactively notify all resident family members about COVID-19 activity within the facility and measures implemented | 88/92 (96) |
| Surge capacity | |
| Estimates should be made and frequent reassessments of the quantities of essential resident care materials and equipment and personal protective equipment. | 82/92 (89) |
| A plan has been developed to address likely supply shortages (eg, personal protective equipment), including strategies for using normal and alternative channels for procuring needed resources. | 84/92 (91) |
Note. IPC, infection prevention and control; ABHR, alcohol-based hand rub; EPA, Environmental Protection Agency; EMS, emergency medical services.