The Florida Division of Emergency Management is lifting limitations on long-term care facility visitations that were initially put in place due to COVID-19.
The new emergency order was quietly published late Monday.
The order rescinds several previous executive orders that limited visitations, but says facilities should maintain visitation and infection control policies in line with state and federal laws. Facilities should also monitor the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the CDC for guidance.
Dem Order No. 21 001 by Kyra Shportun on Scribd
The order does not apply to non-residential long-term care hospitals.
The executive orders that were rescinded are DEM Orders Nos. 20-002, 20-006, 20-007, 20-009, and 20-011.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released an updated memorandum earlier this month for nursing home visits that expanded indoor visits and touching.
The CMS’ guidelines are similar to the state’s order, but differ on things like visitations if there’s a COVID-19 case and physical contact.
The memorandum outlines:
- Screening and temperature checks for those entering the facility
- Face coverings, social distancing, hand hygiene, staff PPE use and cleaning and disinfecting
- Resident and staff testing
- Outdoor visitation is preferred, even when the resident and visitor are fully vaccinated, and infection control practices should be followed
- Facilities should allow indoor visitation, except for a few circumstances due to high risk of COVID-19 transmission. (For example, unvaccinated residents if the county’s positive rate is greater than 10 percent and less than 70 percent of residents at the facility are fully vaccinated).
- Compassionate care visits should be allowed at all times
- If necessary facilities should consider scheduling visits for a specified length of time, and limit visitor movement in the facility.
- If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose whether to have close contact with their visitor while wearing a face mask and using hand hygiene.
- If a new case of COVID-19 is identified, the facility should suspend visitation and conduct testing. If there are no additional cases in other areas, visitation can resume in areas with no case. Visitation should be suspended on the affected unit. Compassionate care visits should be allowed at all times.
The Agency for Health Care Administration said nursing homes must follow revised CMS visitation guidelines and core principles of infection prevention.
The AHCA said assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities must follow state and federal recommendations and industry best practices for visitation, infection prevention, and the screening and triage of everyone entering a facility for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
“Limiting visitation has helped keep residents safe, but restricting access to families and friends has taken a toll on the quality of life of those living in long-term care facilities,” wrote the AHCA. “Moving forward, all long-term care facilities should strive to help alleviate the burden caused by separation of residents from their loved ones.”
"term" - Google News
March 24, 2021 at 07:37PM
https://ift.tt/3d7NiuR
State lifts some long-term care visitation restrictions - ABC7 News
"term" - Google News
https://ift.tt/35lXs52
https://ift.tt/2L1ho5r
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "State lifts some long-term care visitation restrictions - ABC7 News"
Post a Comment