Highlights of Second LTC Imperative Short Survey on Testing

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Jeff Bostic

Earlier this week the LTC Imperative completed our second short, one-day survey, which looked at employee and resident testing. Testing is an important aspect of containing outbreaks during the pandemic and the survey results will help inform our advocacy on testing policies and payment.

374 providers responded to this survey in the 24 hours it was open, so thank you all for your responsiveness.

Survey results highlights include:

• Not much difference in testing rates between AL and NF
• Strong majority have done or plan to do baseline testing
• Strong majority have used REDcap for baseline testing
• More than half have paid for employee testing (most through health insurance for those employees, some directly)
• More than 80% of those who have tested are implementing some form of ongoing surveillance testing
• Time to get results is relatively quick in most cases- over 75% four days or less
• About 10% of those who have requested testing through REDcap have been rejected
• Most NFs have a relationship with a lab and plan to collect their own specimens for the new testing mandate
• The most common lab relationship is with Mayo (U of M is almost absent from the list)
• Few have point of care equipment now and do not know if they can get adequate supplies for it once they do
• 75% of SNFs would use regional testing centers if available, those who say no are primarily rural and concerned about distance of travel.

For more details, click here.