Table 2.
Indicators of risk perception versus facilities hazard assessment (each item was given one point if performed).
| Facilities’ Perception | Assessment of Facilities |
|---|---|
| (Items Extracted from Introductory Questionnaire) | (Items Extracted from the ICAR Checklist) |
| IPC Practices | |
| Body temperature is monitored for all staff before entering the facility | All HCP (including everyone in the facility staff) are screened at the beginning of their shift for fever and symptoms of COVID-19 |
| At the entrance of the facility, alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is available for everyone | Potential visitors are screened prior to entry for fever or symptoms of COVID-19. Those with symptoms are not permitted to enter the facility |
| Anyone entering the facility wears a surgical mask for the entire length of stay | Visitors that are permitted inside must wear a cloth face covering while in the building and restrict their visit to the resident’s room or other location designated by the facility. They are also reminded to frequently perform hand hygiene |
| Body temperature is measured daily for all the residents of the facility | The facility assesses residents for fever and symptoms of COVID-19 upon admission and at least daily throughout their stay in the facility |
| A facility staff member has been identified to verify the correct use of PPE by health workers and proper hand hygiene | The facility monitors HCP adherence to recommended IPC practices |
| The ABHR is readily available to all healthcare staff during patient care activities | PPE is available in resident care areas including outside resident rooms |
| Quarantine/Isolation | |
| Newly admitted residents are housed in a dedicated room and avoid contact with other people during the observation period (14 days) | The facility has a plan for managing new admissions and readmissions whose COVID-19 status is unknown |
| Newly admitted residents are swabbed before entering the facility and at the end of the observation period (14 days) | The facility has dedicated a team of primary HCP staff to work only in this area of the facility |
| There is a procedure for rapid isolation of people with a new confirmed/suspected case of COVID-19 and the case is reported to the referring physician | The facility has a plan for how to deal with residents in the facility who develop COVID-19 |
| Transfer of a COVID-19 confirmed/suspected case to another facility is expected if adequate isolation of the subject cannot be arranged | The facility has dedicated a space in which to care for residents with confirmed COVID-19. |
| A dedicated area of the facility has been identified and could be used in case of a high number of COVID-19 cases (cohort isolation) | Availability of beds in isolation facilities assessed at time of survey |
| Training | |
| Facility staff (including non-employees) are expressly informed not to attend work with fever, myalgia, asthenia or respiratory/gastrointestinal symptoms | The facility has provided education and refresher training to HCP (including consultant personnel) about the following: COVID-19 |
| The facility staff has been informed to avoid close contact between colleagues, except for any resident care activity if necessary | The facility has provided education and refresher training to HCP (including consultant personnel) about the following: sick leave policies and the importance of not reporting to or remaining at work when sick |
| Caregivers are trained in the procedure to be taken when a new resident enters the facility (from hospital/household) | The facility has provided education and refresher training to HCP (including consultant personnel) about the following: new policies for source control while in the facility |
| Facility staff are trained on the procedure to be adopted in case of a new confirmed/suspected COVID-19 host | The facility has provided staff with education on how to use a facemask or respirator if more than source control is required |
| Specific training was carried out | All HCP are reminded to practice social distancing when in break rooms and common areas |
| More than 50% of the facility staff has attended the specific training activities | If HCP are ill, they are instructed to keep their cloth face covering or facemask on and leave the facility. HCP with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should notify their supervisor at any facility where they work |