16 Nov Core Principles of Infection Prevention

CORE PRINCIPLES OF INFECTION PREVENTION

Edgewater Place Assisted Living & Rehabilitation Policy & Procedure

Approved: 3/2020

Revised: 5/21, 12/21, 7/22

POLICY:

Edgewater Place will define best practices for infection prevention during the COVID-19 crisis or any pandemic event. Edgewater Place will continue to follow federal, state and local guidance for each phase to safely and effectively reopen America. Everyone has a role in making sure our communities are as safe as possible as we move back to our normal lifestyle or create a new normal.

PROCEDURE:

• The Director’s Order and Amended Order for the Testing of Residents and Staff of all Residential Care Facilities dated August 28, 2020, and March 23, 2021, respectively, are hereby rescinded effective at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2022.
• Testing is NOT to stop, and it is the Provider’s duty to ensure the safety of Residents and Staff.
• The new recommendation for staff routine testing is that RCF’s follow the CDC testing guidelines as baseline procedures, which utilize the Levels of COVID-19 Community Transmission Rates found on the COVIDCare Portal.

1. The Community Transmission Rates will dictate the frequency of testing for all unvaccinated staff and staff that are not “Up to Date” with COVID vaccinations.
2. Unvaccinated refers to a person who does not fit the definition of fully vaccinated, including people whose vaccination status is not known. You are “Up to Date” with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all doses in the primary series and boosters recommended for you, when eligible.
3. Regardless of vaccination status, strategic testing of all staff and residents shall continue. Strategic testing may include, but is not limited to, testing staff and residents with known or suspected COVID-19 exposure; testing symptomatic staff and residents; or testing staff and residents as determined clinically necessary.

• Testing results will be monitored using the COVID Census Log and/or the COVID Tracking spreadsheets for staff and residents.
• The facility will reference the Levels of COVID-19 Community Transmission Rates and the current situation in the facility in determining whether to safely maintain indoor visitation or to suspend it for a time.
• All visitors will enter through the Main Entrance of the building. Employees and large deliveries will enter through the Service entrance in the back of the building.
• Screening of all who enter the facility for signs and symptoms of COVID-19; temperature checks, questions/observations about signs/symptoms), and denial of entry of those with signs or symptoms.
• Hand hygiene: education information posted in public restrooms, resident bathrooms, employee breakrooms and kitchen.
• Surgical/medical mask, covering mouth and nose, must be worn in all communal areas by residents, staff, and visitors.
• Social distancing at least six feet between persons when possible.
• Educational signage throughout the facility on COVID-19 signs and symptoms and infection control precautions.
• Cleaning and disinfecting high frequency touched surfaces in the facility.
• Cleaning and disinfecting designated visitation area(s) after each visit.
• All medical equipment sanitized between use.
• Each department will follow appropriate cleaning/disinfecting protocol.
• Appropriate staff use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Perform contact tracing to identify any HCP who have had a higher-risk exposure or residents who may have had close contact with an individual with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Contact tracing starts 2 days before the infected person developed symptoms, or the date they were tested if they do not have symptoms, until they started isolation
• Quarantine and Isolation in Place will be utilized for Residents based on vaccine status, exposure, and symptoms. Appropriate PPE: gloves, N95 or higher respirator, eye protection and gowns will be available for staff providing care.
• The Novaerus Units safeguard residents, staff and visitors from harmful disease outbreaks caused by airborne viruses, bacteria, allergens, and mold. Units maintained by Environmental Services Director.
• The facility reminds residents who choose to leave the facility and any individual accompanying the resident to follow all recommended infection prevention practices including wearing a mask, physical distancing, and hand hygiene.
• Upon the resident’s return, the facility will take the following actions as appropriate:

• If the resident or family member reports possible close contact to an individual with COVID-19 while outside of the facility, the resident will be tested for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status. The resident will be placed on quarantine if the resident is not fully vaccinated.
• If the resident develops signs or symptoms of COVID-19 after the outing, the resident will be tested for COVID-19 and placed on Transmission-Based Precautions, regardless of vaccination status.
• The facility may also opt to test unvaccinated residents without signs or symptoms if they leave the facility frequently or for a prolonged length of time, such as over 24 hours.
• The facility might consider quarantining unvaccinated residents who leave the facility if, based on an assessment of risks, uncertainty exists about their adherence or the adherence of those around them to recommended infection prevention measures.

• This plan will be maintained and revised as needed or directed.