COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force Report Released

The Governor's Nursing Homes COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force released its final recommendations this afternoon. The task force was created by Governor Whitmer through executive order within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to inform the state's response to a potential second wave of COVID-19.

Serving as Co-Chair of the task force was HCAM member Roger Mali of Mission Point. HCAM President Melissa Samuel served as chair of the workgroup exploring options for placement of COVID-19 positive residents.

 

The task force's final recommendations include:

• Continuing to use the regional hub program with strengthened guidance and protocols as Care and Recovery Centers.
• Identifying and coordinating with hospitals with excess surge capacity.
• Improving coordination of personal protective equipment distribution and allocation.
• Securing funding for continue testing of nursing home residents.
• Exploring options for creating dedicated facilities/alternative care settings.
• Improving support of physical and mental health for staff.
• Increasing opportunities for safe visitation. 

You can find the full report from the task force by clicking HERE.

 

As part of the task force, the MDHHS contracted with the Center for Health Research and Transformation (CHRT) out of the University of Michigan to review the state's regional hub program. CHRT concluded that the regional hub program was a reasonable response as the pandemic hit Michigan, and that nursing facilities are able to safely care for COVID-19 positive individuals with appropriate cohorting, PPE and testing. CHRT also wrote that there was no significant evidence of transmission of COVID-19 between patients admitted from hospitals to nursing home residents in hub facilities; that nursing home resident COVID-19 prevalence positively correlated with county COVID-19 prevalence rates for both hub and non-hub nursing homes; and that COVID-19 infection rates in nursing homes correlated with staff infection rates, consistent with community prevalence.

 

You can find the full CHRT recommendation by clicking HERE.

 

For questions or concerns please contact Melissa Samuel at MelissaSamuel@hcam.org or Richie Farran at RichFarran@hcam.org.

 

 Sept. 1, 2020