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.”
AMDA’s new COVID vaccine PowerPoint can help answer resident, staff concerns A toolkit created by industry clinicians aims to help long-term care operators address questions about getting vaccinated. A PowerPoint presentation is available to share with staff and residents. Higher vitamin D doses linked to greater falls injury in older adults A new investigation revealed … [Read more]
Below is a quick recap of what we’ve learned. This is all information we have directly from the CDC and leadership and CVS/Omnicare and Walgreens/Pharmerica. This is of course a very fluid situation and we expect more updates in the coming days/weeks. CVS/Omnicare COVID Vaccine website – https://www.omnicare.com/covid-19-vaccine-resource Walgreens/Pharmerica COVID Vaccine website – https://pharmerica.com/covid19/ Update Contacts – CVS has strongly … [Read more]
AHCA/NCAL, Other Groups Urge Policymakers To Prioritize LTC Residents, Staff For COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Magazine (11/30, Connole, 151K) reports, “In a joint statement released on Nov. 30, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), LeadingAge, Argentum, and the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) urged policymakers at all levels to make residents and staff … [Read more]
CDC panel formally gives LTC residents, workers top priority for COVID-19 vaccine NEWS BREAKING: CDC panel formally gives LTC residents, workers top priority for COVID-19 vaccine By Danielle Brown Publish Date December 1, 2020 The immunization advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overwhelmingly affirmed on Tuesday that long-term care residents and … [Read more]
WEBINAR – Nursing through a Pandemic: Self-care in in the time of COVID Webinar Series with the Editors of the ‘Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures, 10th Edition’ Nursing Through a Pandemic Episode One: Put your own oxygen mask on first: self-care in the time of COVID Presenters: Sara Lister and Hayley Grafton December … [Read more]