The following was shared with us by the NH Health Care Association. Beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 15th, all assisted living facilities, long term care facilities, nursing facilities, residential care facilities . . . or any other similar facilities providing residential care to elderly or infirm patients, shall prohibit visitor access to reduce facility based transmission of COVID- 19. This prohibition shall not apply to medically necessary personnel, visitors for residents receiving end of life care, or visitors necessary to provide for a residents [sic] psychosocial needs as determined by a licensed medical care provider. This directive supercedes what was earlier today issued by the Department, although we would encourage everyone to access the many fine communication and vetting tools provided by the Department. The executive order applies to all facilities regulated by the state of New Hampshire. Separately, CMS has followed the advice of AHCA/NCAL and restricted federally-regulated SNF visitations. Click here to review and download the latest version of the document which has been revised since it was first sent out yesterday. The overriding life safety objective is to keep COVID-19 at bay as long as possible. We recognize this will not be forever. Brendan Williams of the NHHCA already asked an epidemiologist to intervene when a test was refused -- despite MD advice -- for a resident presenting with symptoms that may, or may not, be the virus. Please let us know of any other such occurrences. Separately, we are aware of the burden school closures can impose upon our workforce, where 92% of LNAs are women -- many single moms. We'll be bringing these issues up to policymakers. |