FEDERAL NEWS

NHSN Changes Coming FALL 2021 – Revision Update 
CDC has released a one pager outlining the changes to NHSN Covid-19 Vaccination Data Collection Forms for Health Care Personnel slated for the Fall of 2021. The main changes:

  • Question #1 will no longer have current healthcare personnel categories data collected – this will be replaced with NEW categories including: employees, licensed independent practitioners, adult students/trainees and volunteers and other contract personnel.
  • Question #3.2 and #3.3 will now be REQUIRED.
  • Question #4 will now be optional and facilities will need to create a monthly reporting PLAN before entering data into NHSN.

The one pager gives preparation advice as well as contact information and the announcement of training webinars for the Fall. Any questions, please contact NHSN@cdc.gov with COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting in the subject line.

LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS

No Weekly Webinar THIS Friday Due to Virtual Roundtables
All of the updates will be shared during our Roundtables. Register for Roundtables for your region.We will return on August 13th. Make plans to join us each Friday at 10 AM. Register here. Let Nicole if you have specific topics we should add to the agenda.

LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS

Online Coronavirus Policy Updates

  • Today, August 2nd, 2:30 PM CT – Dr. Nimalie Stone from CDC will unpack the new guidance on the use of masks for vaccinated individuals and what these changes could mean for members.
  • Wednesday, August 4th, 2:30 PM CT – Dr. Monica Gandhi will talk about the delta variant’s impact on increasing cases and answer member questions.

Register now to join the calls.

New Insights and Tools From LeadingAge
LeadingAge staff experts are developing essential advocacy, guidance, and tools, and curating the most relevant resources for aging services providers, including:​​

​​​​A complete timeline of insights and tools is available here, so you’ll never miss an update.

RESOURCES

CDC Guidance For Implementing COVID Prevention Strategies
July 27th CDC MMWR on guidance for implementing COVID-19 prevention strategies in the context of varying community transmission levels and vaccination coverage. Highlights: COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the US are effective against severe illness and death from SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, current U.S. coverage is uneven. Implementation of layered prevention strategies reduces transmission. Given the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, local decision-makers should assess the following factors to inform the need for layered prevention strategies across a range of settings: 1) level of community transmission, 2) health system capacity, 3) vaccination coverage, 4) capacity for early detection of increases in COVID-19 cases, and 5) populations at risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. Although increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage remains the most effective means to achieve control of the pandemic, additional layered prevention strategies will be needed in the short-term to minimize preventable morbidity and mortality.

LeadingAge Story Collector: Virtual Reality Builds Engagement Among AL and SNF Residents
The new LeadingAge Story Collector, powered by Gold Partner Greystone, makes it easy to tell your story by making a brief audio recording or writing in your story. One recent story explains how a pilot of virtual reality programming was so popular at one of its communities, Parker has made the headsets available at all five of its communities offering skilled nursing, assisted living, and post-acute care. The activities spark conversation and build connections and show very positive results in some residents living with dementia. Use the Story Collector to tell us yours! Submissions don’t have to be perfect; LeadingAge staff will contact you to gather more details and information.

THANK YOU TO OUR BRONZE PARTNER

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