Update for Thursday, March 11, 2021

CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) released a revised version of QSO-20-39-NH-Revised related to nursing home visitation. This revision is effective immediately and includes changes to the visitation guidelines including the impact of COVID-19 vaccination. View the memo.

QSO-20-39-NH-Revised Highlights:

Outdoor visitation continues to be the preferred visitation approach even when the resident and visitor are fully vaccinated. Outdoor visitation is not permitted for residents on transmission-based precautions.

Indoor Visitation When Not in CMS Outbreak Status

Shall be allowed at all times for all residents except in any the following circumstances:

• Unvaccinated Residents and county’s positivity rate is red based on the CMS color coding class and less than 70 % of the nursing home’s residents are vaccinated.

• Residents with COVID-19

• Residents on Quarantine

Indoor Visitation During an Outbreak (1 or more new COVID-19 positive staff or resident), the nursing home should immediately begin outbreak testing (QSO-20-38-NH) and suspend indoor visitation until at least one round of facility-wide testing of residents and staff is complete. At that time, we will communicate further guidance pending the outcome of testing.

Procedures for Indoor Visitation

· Screening of all visitors
· Face mask/eye protection (you can bring in your own goggles)
· Hand-hygiene
· Social distancing of 6 ft. unless both parties are fully vaccinated (Fully vaccinated=2 weeks or more past receipt of 2nd dose in 2-dose series or one dose of a single-dose vaccine.)

Compassionate Care Visits

Compassionate care visits shall be permitted as needed for the resident regardless of outbreak status, county positivity rate, or the resident’s COVID-19 status, with adherence to transmission-based precautions when required.

Please know we are grateful for your patience, your support and prayers during this past year. We are all anxious to resume some normalcy and we are getting closer.

For any questions please contact Peggy Stockel, V.P. of Operations/Administrator or Matt Jahn, Director of Health Services at 563-557-7180. Thank you.

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Current COVID testing numbers at Stonehill Communities Health Center as of 3/11/21:

Number of Positive Resident Cases: 0 Positive; 60 Recovered

Number of Positive Employee Cases: 1 Positive; 110 Recovered

Number of Resident Tested w/ COVID-19 symptoms or Surveillance Tested (including pending): 144 (0 Pending)

Number of Employees Tested for COVID-19 for Symptoms or Exposure (Including Pending): 298 (2 Pending)

All previous updates can be read at: https://www.stonehilldbq.com/coronavirus/