It has come to our attention that many assisted living/senior living communities are doing their own COVID-19 testing on staff and residents. Please be aware in order to administer these tests you MUST apply for and obtain a CLIA WAIVER. A template for CLIA WAIVER policy and procedure is attached as are the required application forms. You may add that anyone performing the point of care tests should be skill validated for the specific device that will be used, with return demonstration, and the documentation for that training placed in their employee file.
It is advised you check with your company or corporate office before submitting the attached application.
Although it is a federal form (CMS116) the states process the forms and some have additional requirements. Check with the state agency listed in the attachment to ascertain what else you might need.
You should estimate around 6-12 weeks for processing.
If you have any questions PLEASE use the contact form on alnursing.org to contact a board member.
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released the following statement in response to the recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve booster shots of the Moderna and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 vaccines for certain individuals, including residents and health care workers in long term care.
The following statement is attributable to David Gifford, MD, chief medical officer of AHCA/NCAL:
“Once again, we appreciate the FDA and CDC for thoroughly examining the data and following the science to help protect Americans, including our nation’s most vulnerable, from COVID-19. All long term care residents and staff members will now be eligible to receive a booster shot thanks to these expanded recommendations.
“Additionally, the ability to mix-and-match vaccines for the booster dose will make it easier for long term care facilities to swiftly access these vaccines for their residents and staff.
“The rollout of the Pfizer booster shot has gone incredibly well in long term care, and we are confident that adding Moderna and Johnson and Johnson into the mix will catapult our efforts. We appreciate the partnership of federal and state governments, as well as long term care pharmacies and other vaccine providers, to make these vaccination efforts in nursing homes and assisted living communities efficient and successful.”
Loneliness | Coronavirus and Cancer COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation, and we at NIH are doing everything we can toward the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. You can find the latest public health information from CDC at www.coronavirus.gov and the latest research information from NIH at www.nih.gov/coronavirus. Meanwhile, we have posted the May issue of NIH News in Health, the … [Read more]
RESPIRATOR Versus MASKS POSTER- FEEL FREE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT Please see the below important information related to COVID-19 response. Masks VS Respirators Poster for info https://repository.netecweb.org/files/original/a760e78da1485a346f43816aa8ee7926.pdf J. David Weidner, MPH, REHS, MEP, CEM, CHEP Director, Emergency Management
Members of Congress give assisted living CEOs until Friday to detail their COVID-19 cases, strategies PREMIUM SPONSORS Join McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News on May 13 for COVID-19 Update II, our second McKnight’s Online Forum on the topic. This free event will feature three consecutive CE-approved webinars. Learn more here ALSO IN THE NEWS Senior living industry bracing for … [Read more]
New Blanket Waivers for LTC, Fresh Coronavirus Resources CMS Reveals New Blanket Waivers for LTC, Fresh Coronavirus Resources Patrick Connole The Centers for Disease Control is hosting training webinars for providers Monday and Tuesday on the COVID-19 impact on residents and staff and what facilities can do. Read more now.
New COVID-19 Clinical Guidelines, including the following: Consensus on Chest Imaging (Fleischner Society) › Managing Newborns (AAP) › Lung Ultrasonography › Guidelines on Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy › Guidelines on Hypoxic COVID-19 Patients (SCCM) › IDSA Guidelines on Management › How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting you? See what key opinion leaders are saying and share your … [Read more]