HCAOA The Voice Summer 2020

6 HCAOA The Voice FEATURE ARTICLE Home Care Agency Recommendations for No Exposures AGENCY PREPAREDNESS CAREGIVER GUIDANCE CLIENT AWARENESS 1. Develop an agency policy to address COVID-19 2. Create an emergency preparedness plan and assign roles to staff 3. Find multiple vendors for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and stock up on gloves, gowns, procedure masks, and eye protection (i.e. goggles or face shields) 4. Develop screening tool for COVID-19 5. Prepare communication materials a. Letter for caregivers b. Letter for clients c. Alternate for clients d. Letter for referral sources 6. Continually follow the CDC and local Department of Health for COVID-19 updates and recommendations 7. Letter to agency personnel (internal communication) 8. Ensure agency financial viablility and continuity of business ops 9. Allocation of appropriate utilization of resources 10. Be prepared for staffing shortages and refusal to work if PHE expands 11. Test your emergency plan 1. Offer Staff Training a. What is COVID-19 b. How to prevent the spread c. Standard Precautions i. Hand Washing ii. When/how to use PPE d. Create policies for PPE i. Gloves ii. Masks iii. Gowns e. Agency screening protocol and reporting symptoms to the office f. Agency policy for handling COVID-19 clients 2. Conduct caregiver screening at start of work day with screening tool a. Any exposure to COVID-19? b. Any travel in the last 14 days? c. COVID-19 symptoms? (fever > 100.4 F, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath) 3. Communicate your emergency plan 4. Communicate HR policies and clarify as needed 1. Send out letter to clients detailing plan to keep them safe a. Training provided to all staff b. Agency is following CDC and health department guidelines c. Agency is screening all clients and caregivers prior to shifts 2. Provide educational handouts a. How to stay safe in public b. Face covering guidance c. Visitor information sign for entrance to clients’ home 3. Cover emergency preparedness plan with clients to ensure that a backup plan is in place in case agency is unable to provide care 4. Conduct client screening before start of shift 5. Maintain continuity of care 6. Regular communication (in addition to letters) via phone, text, or virtual technology 7. Reinforce home is the safest place to be 1 2 3 This guidance has been prepared based on federal, state and industry expert best practice guidance as of April 10, 2020. This guidance will be reviewed and subject to revision. Home Care providers are encouraged to create policies and procedures that reflect their own agency operations, capabilities and community/patient needs. These materials are not to be construed as the rendering of legal or management advice. For areas with no known cases of COVID-19, we recommend implementing the following steps to ensure the safety of your clients and caregivers.