Coronavirus Disease 2019
COVID-19 TOOLS, RESOURCES & GUIDANCE
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UPDATED COVID-19 GUIDANCE
- MDH COVID-19 Recommendations for Healthcare Workers (2/23/21)
- MDH Quarantinine Guidance (2/16/21)
- Optimizing N95 Respirators (2/10/21)
- Reporting Employee COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Deaths to OSHA (2/12/21)
COVID-19 VACCINATION
- Staff COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Toolkit (2/22/21)
- Post-Vaccine Clinic Communications Toolkit (2/22/21)
- CDC-What to Expect for Pharmacy Partnerships for Long Term Care Program Third Clinics (2/5/21)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Facts Video for staff (from MAGIC,Minnesota Association for Geriatrics Inspired Clinicians) (2/9/21)
Vaccine Clinic Tools & Resources
- COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Template (1/8/21)
- Vaccine Clinic Checklist (1/8/21)
- Vaccine Clinic Practical Tips (1/8/21)
- Vaccine Clinic Talking Points & Messages (1/8/21)
Guidance Documents
- MDH Vaccine Reporting Instructions (1/19/21)
- MDH Vaccine Reporting FAQ (1/19/21)
- DH Vaccine Tracker Spreadsheet (12/30/20)
- CDC LTC COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit (12/23/20)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Communications toolkit (12/21/20)
- CDC FAQ about COVID-19 Vaccination in Long-term Care (12/28/20)
- MDH-Minnesota Guidance for Allocating and Prioritizing COVID-19 Vaccine: Phase 1a (12/8/20)
- MDH Vaccine Planning and Distribution Key Messages (12/8/20)
- MDH Healthcare Worker Vaccination Series Webinar #1: Making and Approving a Safe and Effective Vaccine (11/24/20)
- MDH Healthcare Worker Vaccination Series Webinar #2: Making and Approving a Safe and Effective Vaccine (12/1/20)
- MDH Healthcare Worker Vaccination Series Webinar #3: Once We Have a COVID-19 Vaccine: Deciding Who is First (12/8/20)
- MDH Healthcare Worker Vaccination Serie Webinar #4: Addressing Common Concerns Regarding COVID-19 (12/15/20)
Tools & Resources: Vaccination Communication
- CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Communications Toolkit (12/11/20)
- For Staff:
- Staff COVID-19 Vaccination Handout (11/24/20)
- Staff Sample Messages on COVID-19 Vaccination (12/1/20)
- Staff FAQ on COVID-19 Vaccination (12/1/20)
- For Residents & Families:
- Sample Letter on COVID-19 Vaccination (12/3/20)
- Sample COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ for Residents & Families (12/2/20)
- For News Media & Social Media:
TREATMENT
- Monoclonal Antibody (mAbs) Resources Summary (1/14/21)
- AMDA/ASCP Monoclonal Antibody Treatments in Senior Care Environments
CRISIS PLANNING
Tools & Resources
- MDH Guidance for Quarantine of Long-term Care Residents Returning from Non-medically Necessary Outings (11/24/20)
- Holiday Gathering Communications Toolkit (11/19/20)
- COVID-19 Crisis Staffing Checklist (10/27/20)
- MDH Chart: PPE - Contingency Standards of Care (9/25/20)
-
PPE Prioritization Protocol: PPE Requests for Providers of Direct Patient Care (9/15/20)
- MDH Essential Resources and Forms for COVID-19 Testing and Case Management in Long-term Care Facilities (11/2/20)
- MDH COVID-19 Recommendations for Healthcare Workers (10/22/10)
COMMUNICATIONS
Tools & Resources
- Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in Site – Resident & Family Letter Template (11/2/20)
- Surge in COVID-19 Cases in Site - Resident & Family Letter Template (11/2/20)
- Loss of Life Due to COVID-19 - Resident & Family Letter Template (11/2/20)
- Top 10 COVID-19 Communications Tips
- External Communications Toolkit
VISITATION
Tools & Resources
- Video on Safe Visitor Practices: Safe Care (12/3/20)
- CDC holiday considerations (10/19/20)
- Decision Guide: Quarantine for Residents & Staff (11/24/20)
- Tip Sheet for Determining the Covid-19 Positivity Rate In Your County (10/12/20)
- Toolkit for Visitation Implementation (10/12/20)
- Essential Caregiver Program Toolkit (7/17/20)
Guidance Documents
- MDH Visitation Guidance - Assisted Living and HWS (10/28/20)
- CMS Visitation Guidance: QSO-20-39 (9/17/20)
- Summary of CMS QSO-20-39 (9/18/20)
- HVAC COVID-19 Guidance from MDH (9/4/20)
- Tents and Clear Divider MDH Guidance (9/30/20)
- MDH Visitation Guidance Summary (10/12/20)
- MDH Visitation Guidance-Nursing Homes (10/14/20
TESTING
Tools & Resources: General
- MDH COVID-19 Testing Web Page
- Decision Guide: "Whole House" Testing (09/02/20)
- Payment for COVID-19 Lab Tests in Minnesota Long-Term Care Settings (10/22/20)
- Updated Testing Consent Form - Resident (9/15/20)
- Updated Testing Consent Form - Staff (9/15/20)
- COVID-19 Testing Basics Factsheet (9/25/20)
- Handout if Staff Refuses Testing (8/20/20)
- MDH Poster for Staff Awareness on Testing
Tools & Resources: PCR Testing
- RT-PCR Testing Vendor List (12/11/20)
Tools & Resources: Antigen Testing
-
MDH Antigen Testing Guide (10/7/20)
-
MDH Flowchart for Antigen Testing (10/7/20)
- CMS FAQ: Point of Care Testing in Nursing Homes (07/24/20)
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MDH Instructions for Reporting Long-term Care COVID-19 Point-of-Care Antigen Testing Results (10/21/20)
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MDH COVID-19 Lab Results Reporting File Template QSA (Excel)
for Quidel Sofia Antigen testing equipment -
MDH COVID-19 Lab Results Reporting File Template BVA (Excel)
for BD Veritor Antigen testing equipment
MDH COVID-19 Lab Results Reporting File Template ABN (Excel)
for Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Ag Card
-
Tools & Resources: Test Planning
- Testing Plan Toolkit w/MDH Template (8/21/20)
- Questions for Potential Testing Vendors (06/03/20)
- Checklist - Preparing for Testing Day (05/29/20)
- Fact Sheet - PCR Viral Testing (05/29/20)
- Specimen Collection Training Video (05/26/20)
- Employment Law: Testing FAQ (06/29/30)
- Employee Letter that Indicates Health Care Staff are Prioritized for Testing
- Medicaid Coverage for Testing for Non-Insured Individuals (05/01/20)
- CDC Guidance on Collecting Clinical Specimens
- Considerations to Prepare for Expanded Testing (05/11/20)
Guidance Documents
-
MDH Guidance on CMS COVID-19 Nursing Home Testing Rule (Serial Staff Testing) (9/18/20)
- CMS Interim Final Rule (9/02/20)
- Summary of New CMS COVID-19 Testing Rule (rev. 09/01/20)
- CMS COVID-19 Nursing Home Testing Rule - LeadingAge MN FAQ (rev. 09/10/20)
- Nursing Home Testing Requirements Decision Guide (8/28/20)
- LeadingAge MN Summary - CMS COVID-19 Nursing Home Testing Rule (09/01/20)
- LeadingAge MN FAQ - CMS COVID-19 Nursing Home Testing Rule(rev. 09/10/20)
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Tools & Resources:
- Respiratory Protection Program (11/3/20)
- Particulate respirator donning policy (11/3/20)
- Seal check policy (11/3/20)
- rioritization Protocol: PP Requests for Providers of Direct Patient Care 9/16/20)
- MDH Chart: PPE - Contingency Standards of Care (9/25/20)
- MDH Chart: PPE Use - Standards of Care (04/24/20)
- Purchasing PPE - Manfacturers and Products
- COVID-19 Video Brief - Facemasks
- PPE: How to Don and Doff (video)
- Facemask: How to Don and Doff (MDH-Video)
- PPE Optimization Strategies
- CDC PPE Optimization Strategies
Guidance Documents
INFECTION CONTROL
Tools & Resources:
- CMS COVID19 Focused Survey Tools - Updated August 27 2020
- Focused Infection Control Surveys in Nursing Homes: Deficient Practices Commonly Cited by MN Department of Health (July 2020)
- Safe Care in the Age of COVID: Focused Infection Control Surveys - Overall Themes (June 2020)
- Focused Infection Control Surveys - Assisted Living & Housing with Services (04/24/20)
- Focused Survey Preparation - Nursing Homes (04/17/20)
- Improving Hand Hygiene & PPE Compliance
- Managing Acute Symptoms in COVID-19 Cases (04/20/20) Source: Minnesota Hospice & Palliative Care and Minnesota Association of Geriatric Inspired Clinicians.
MENTAL HEALTH
Tools & Resources:
- Staff Hotline Communications Toolkit (To access hotline, call 612-455-8656 or send an email to:covidsupport@acp-mn.com)
- NAMI-MN Online Tool: Minnesota Healthcare Heroes: Self Care for Senior Workers During COVID-19
- MDH Mental Health and Resiliency Tools for Health Care Workers: COVID-19
- Healthcare Workers Guide for Coping with Stress and Compassion Fatigue (from SAMSHA)
- One-pager on Staff Well-being During the Pandemic
TOOLKITS BY TOPIC
- COVID-19 Compliance Obligations by Provider Type (8/17/20)
- External Communications Toolkit (8/19/20)
- Adult Day Services Re-Opening (07/29/20)
- Outdoor Visitation (06/18/20)
- Resident Transfer & Cohorting (05/13/20)
- Notification Guidance & Best Practices (05/05/20)
- Communicating During a Surge (04/24/20)
- Loss of Life from COVID-19 (04/08/20)
- Confirmed/Positive Case Resources (04/24/20)
- Independent Living & Housing with Services (06/30/20)
- Family Members Who Want to Move a Loved One Home (04/03/20)
- Visitation Guidance Resources (03/19/20)
- Adult Day Temporary Closure (03/30/20)
- General Information Resources (03/16/20)
- Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Posters, Videos (MDH)
- COVID-19 Videos, Fact Sheets, Posters (CDC)
ARCHIVED COVID-19 TOOLS & RESOURCES
Adult Day: See ADS COVID-19 Page
Decision Trees & Decision-Making Grid
- Visitation Decision-Making Grid & Considerations (07/17/20)
- Responding to a Confirmed COVID-19 Case (03/26/20)
- COVID-19 Brief: How do I response to a COVID-19 case in my setting? (03/26/20)
- Considerations for Positive Cases of COVID-19 in Residents with Dementia (4/08/20)
- Accepting Admissions from Hospitals (06/01/20)
- Managing Staff Screening (03/18/20)
- Managing/Screening People Who Enter Building (3/18/20)
- Monitoring Residents for COVID-19 (03/15/20)
Checklists
- Survey Readiness (05/08/20)
- Surge Assessment Tool (05/08/20)
- Cohorting Positive COVID-19 Individuals (04/10/20)
- Confirmed COVID-19 Case Response (04/10/20)
- Daily Wellness Calls - Adult Day (03/30/20)
- Prevention Assessment (03/09/20)
MDH Toolkits
Guidance
- MDH COVID-19 Recommendations for Health Care Workers (07/29/20)
- MDH Essential Caregivers (07/10/20)
- FAQ: Essential Caregiver Guidance (07/17/20)
- CMS Guidance on Visitation & Group Activities (06/23/20)
- MDH Aerosol Generating Procedures (06/18/2)
- MDH Outdoor Visitation (06/17/20)
- MDH Window Visits (06/12/20)
- MDH Beauty Shop Guidance (06/12/20)
- MDH Assistant Residents Requesting Camera Placement (06/05/20)
- MDH Case Management Process (05/22/20)
- Master Roster and Call Schedule (05/27/20)
- Compassionate Care Visits (05/18/20)
- Advance Care Planning (05/28/20)
- Resident Transfers During COVID-19 (05/08/20)
- MDH Interim Guidance for Hospital Discharge (05/02/20)
Policy Templates
- Emergency Staffing (05/04/20)
- PPE Sourcing & Optmization (05/08/20)
- Resident & Staff Screening-Suspected/Confirmed Cases (05/08/20)
- Visitor and Vendor Restrictions & Screening (05/08/20)
Best Practices - Dementia Care
- Considerations for Positive Cases of COVID-19 in Residents with Dementia (4/08/20)
- Dementia Care Strategies & Tips During COVID-19
- Tips for Dementia Caregivers in Long-Term or Communty-Based Settings (Alzheimer's Association)
- Emergency Preparedness: Caring for persons living with dementia in a long-term or community-based setting (Alzheimer's Association)
Employment and Staffing
- MDH: Defining Crisis Staffing Shortage
- NEW POSITION: Basic Care Aide
- Maximize Staffing with a New Position
- Basic Care Aide Overview
- Basic Care Aide Curriculum
- Register:
- EduCare Users: Find the Basic Care Aide curriculum pre-loaded in your EduCare library. Contact EduCare with any questions.
- Non-EduCare Users: Students may access the same training for free on LeadingAge National's Learning Hub. Course syllabus and competency resources are included on the website for staff educators/RN trainers.
- NEW TRAINING: Paid Feeding Assistant (expedited - 2.5 hrs)
- Register
- EduCare Users: FInd the Paid Feeding Assistant curriculum in your EduCare library. Contact EduCare with questions.
- Non-EduCare Users: Organizations may access the same traning for free here. Course syllabus and competency resources will be provided to staff educators/RN trainers.
- Register
- Recruitment Strategies During COVID-19
- 5 Successful Workforce Strategies
- Employment Law:
- Revised FFCRA Rules Summary (9-15-20
- PPE, Workplace Safety and Workplace Accommodations (05/18/20)
- Flow Chart: Navigating Emergency FMLA & Paid Sick Leave
- FAQ: Unemployment Benefits (05/06/20
- FFCRA: Emergency FMLA & Sick Leave FAQ (04/07/20)
- DHS Suspends Fingerprinting Requirement: Steps, Guidelines and Frequent Asked Questions (04/03/20)
Funding
- Federal Funding Provider Relief
- Small Business Funding
- Nursing Homes - State Funding
- Assisted Living - State Funding