COVID-19 Updates and Resources: Ongoing support, tools, and best practices to help navigate the COVID-19 pandemic in senior care facilities.
February 25, 2021
Vaccines do not save lives, vaccinations do. If you are struggling with staff or resident participation rates, we’ve put together a resource to help build COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Learn more here or download the toolkit below.
Download the #GetVaccinated Toolkit
January 8, 2021
The COVID-19 vaccine is the first step on the road to recovery. As vaccine clinics continue to ramp up, participation is critical. If you need resources to communicate to staff about the efficacy of the vaccine, please see two videos below. The first is for English-speaking staff and the second is for Spanish-speaking staff.
August 21, 2020
The Infection Control Audit is a tool that allows you to observe practices within your building and identify areas of concern that may require inservicing. The tool helps you stay in compliance.
View the Infection Control Audit
June 26, 2020
FAQ Friday
FAQ Friday is a forum to answer questions you are asking and share new information/resources available. Read the most commonly asked questions and answers this week.
1. Should I be concerned about the recent media coverage on the increase in opioid-related deaths and correlation to COVID-19?
Yes. The nation is focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, but the opioid epidemic remains in full force. The American Medical Association (AMA) reports that more than 30 states have had increases in opioid-related deaths, in correlation with the COVID pandemic. Early data has demonstrated that the stress from unemployment and economic hardship and the prolonged periods of social distancing, and overall uncertainty of COVID-19 have caused an increase in opioid-related mortality. Depression and anxiety are risk factors for addictions. For those with opioid addiction, access to medications is important. This is where we may see a ripple effect and impact in LTC facilities. As we are focused on infection control practices in our buildings during the pandemic, it is imperative to also remain diligent around controlled medication accountability to prevent diversion. A sample of some of the areas you should continue to monitor are:
- Continue controlled medication reconciliation processes
- Ensure consistency with storing documents, including delivery receipts
- Observe and audit shift count process
- Ensure Fentanyl patch placement is documented on the MAR and checked each shift
- Check PRN documentation on the MAR matches the controlled medication inventory sheets documentation
- Check security and access of medications awaiting disposal
- Dispose of unused and discontinued medications as frequently as possible
- Ensure access to all controlled medications is limited and secure
Your Consonus Nurses and Pharmacists are a trusted resource to advise around pain management or systems and monitoring to keep your residents and staff safe. Please reach out to your consultant with any questions.
2. Where can I find a library of COVD-19 resources from Consonus?
At Consonus, we believe in honesty and transparency. We believe in learning from one another and partnering together. We believe in bringing forward actionable information. With Marquis Companies, a post-acute provider, as our parent, Consonus is uniquely qualified to share best practices.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we started sharing updates and resources through a daily email. As time progressed, we transitioned to a weekly email. After sending 16 daily updates and 10 weekly updates, we are transitioning back to a monthly newsletter. The monthly newsletter will include COVID-19 updates and if something needs to be communicated in a more timely manner, you will hear from us immediately.
We’ve created a resource page with a running list of best practices, videos, PowerPoint slides, handouts, policies and procedures you can add to your COVID-19 toolbox. Wherever you are at on this COVID-19 journey, there is a resource for you.
To gain more insight/context behind each resource and read additional updates, read through weekly updates on this page.
View the COVID-19 Resource Library.
June 19, 2020
FAQ Friday
FAQ Friday is a forum to answer questions you are asking and share new information/resources available. Read the most commonly asked questions and answers this week.
1. The State of Oregon announced plans to test long term care residents and staff. What do we need to know about this plan?
Marquis Companies and Consonus Healthcare are based out of Portland, OR, with the majority of Marquis facilities in Oregon (one facility in California and two facilities in Nevada). Last week, Governor Kate Brown announced plans to test long term care residents and staff in Oregon. View press release here. This week, the full plan has been released here.
Marquis Companies is reviewing the requirements and creating a plan for testing. We will share best practices with Consonus Customers once we have a plan in place.
Oregon Health Care Association is monitoring this plan closely and providing clarifications/updates. Click here to read the latest update.
Read Oregon Long Term Care Facility Testing Plan
2. What is the latest guidance around the use of Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment?
Information around COVID-19 is quickly evolving. That includes recommendations for potential treatment options. Within a one-month period, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized emergency use hydroxychloroquine from the Strategic National Stockpile, and then cautioned against use outside of a hospital or clinical trial due to arrhythmias and now the emergency use authorization is revoked. The FDA concluded after continued review of the scientific evidence that hydroxychloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate are unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19. Additionally, in light of ongoing serious cardiac adverse events and other serious side effects, the known potential benefits of the medications no longer outweigh the known and potential risks. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are both FDA-approved to treat or prevent malaria. Hydroxychloroquine is also approved to treat autoimmune conditions such as chronic discoid lupus erythematosus, systemic lupus erythematosus in adults, and rheumatoid arthritis. Both drugs have been prescribed for years to help patients with these debilitating, or even deadly, diseases, and FDA has determined that these drugs are safe and effective when used for these diseases in accordance with their FDA-approved labeling.
Your Consonus pharmacists are drug experts and a great resource to keep you updated on the status of treatments being studied for COVID-19 patients.
3. How does the DHHS CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Medicaid Application process work?
The DHHS CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Medicaid Application Process, while a positive step, also has come with an array of questions and concerns. Unlike Tranches 1-3, the Medicaid Allocation requires an application requiring an array of data. Along with other provider groups, AHCA/NCAL submitted a lengthy list of questions about the Application process.
DHHS announced two Medicaid Allocation Application tutorials. The date options are below and please note you must pre-register.
Medicaid Allocation Applications are due on July 20.
Do you have questions about COVID-19?
Email us at questions@consonushealth.com and we will answer commonly asked questions.
Check back next Friday for more FAQs.
June 12, 2020
FAQ Friday
FAQ Friday is a forum to answer questions you are asking and share new information/resources available. Read the most commonly asked questions and answers this week.
1. The State of Oregon announced plans to test long term care residents and staff. What do we need to know about this plan?
Marquis Companies and Consonus Healthcare are based out of Portland, OR, with the majority of Marquis facilities in Oregon (one facility in California and two facilities in Nevada). Marquis has already conducted baseline testing for all staff/residents in Nevada and is currently conducting testing in California. We have been waiting for Oregon’s testing plan and have been following the announcement closely this week. On June 9, 2020, Governor Kate Brown announced plans to test long term care residents and staff. View press release here. Full details of the plan will be released by the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services later this week.
What we know:
Public health officials will be working with long-term care facilities to implement recommended best practices for ongoing monitoring, including:
- Conducting active daily screenings for fever and COVID-like symptoms for all residents and staff, providing testing for any residents or staff with even mild symptoms. Residents who test positive should be isolated.
- Providing testing for all staff every month on a staggered weekly basis, with the goal of having 25% of all staff tested each week over the course of the month.
- Providing testing for all residents and staff if there is a single new confirmed or suspected resident case or a confirmed staff case, and retesting weekly until at least 14 days pass without a new positive result. Residents who test positive and are symptomatic should be isolated.
- Testing all new residents prior to admission or readmission, including transfers from hospitals or other health care facilities. Even new residents who test negative should be quarantined for 14 days.
What we do not know:
As we wait for more information, we do not know who is providing the tests (state or provider) and who is covering the cost of the tests. This has varied from state-to-state and we’re waiting to find out the State of Oregon’s plan.
We will continue to monitor this plan and share best practices from what we learn in other states.
2. What does the $15 Billion Medicaid Provider Relief Package mean for me?
American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) have advocated for the last several weeks for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make provider relief payments to Medicaid providers.
On June 9, 2020, HHS announced the distribution of $15 Billion from the Provider Relief Fund to Medicaid providers, including assisted living and residential care facilities with Medicaid contracts and nursing facilities who are Medicaid only and do not contract with Medicare.
The payment to each provider will be at least 2 percent of reported gross revenue from patient care; the final amount each provider receives will be determined after the data are submitted, including information about the number of Medicaid patients these providers serve.
Read about the Provider Relief Fund.
3. Can a facility decide on their own if they want to stay in a re-opening phase longer than the surrounding county, and can they phase back if they feel it is necessary?
CMS and CDC released guidance for opening up America again. The guidance/recommendations is to the states on when and how a skilled nursing facility can reopen. While not directly stated, for some of the restrictions, a provider may choose to hold back on entering a phase, it will mostly be up to each state/county.
Ultimately, re-opening plans can differ from state-to-state and county-to-county, thus, making re-opening strategies a hot topic. That being said, re-opening guidance will likely come from the state/county you operate in. The guidance and requirements are in place for advancement into re-opening but if a facility chooses to delay re-opening or stay in a phase longer than the surrounding county, or even phase back if necessary, that is at the discretion of the facility.
4. What should I know about vaccines during this pandemic?
A safe and effective vaccine may be the best way to prevent COVID-19 transmission and infection. To date, no vaccine has been approved by the FDA, but more than 100 vaccines are in development globally and a few are being studied in humans after positive results in animals. Vaccines undergo a rigorous review of laboratory and clinical data to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these products. The FDA is expediting clinical trials for vaccines and scaling up of manufacturing capacity for high priority vaccines for COVID-19. A commercially available vaccine will likely not be available until 2021.
It is important to keep other immunizations on track during COVID-19. Vaccination is critical for some vulnerable patients, such as adults over 65, immunocompromised, children under 2, etc. Data is already suggesting a drop in vaccination rates in kids. This is raising concerns about disease outbreaks, such as measles or mumps, on top of COVID-19. The pandemic alone doesn’t change which vaccines you should or shouldn’t give. It is important to follow the usual CDC vaccine recommendations and for the vulnerable seniors we care for, ensure they are on schedule for vaccine needs, such as pneumococcal, Shingrix and influenza, as flu season approaches.
Stay up-to-date on vaccines with these additional resources:
- CDC: Schedule Changes & Guidance
- CDC: “Decline in Child Vaccination Coverage During COVID-19 Pandemic – Michigan Care Improvement Registry, May 2016-May 2020”
- AAFP: “COVID-19: Guidance for Family Physicians on Preventative and Non-Urgent Care”
- Pharmacist’s Letter: “Keep Immunizations on Track During COVID-19”
5. Is facility quality rating a contributing factor in COVID-19 outbreaks?
It has been determined that the quality rating of a facility was not a contributing factor in COVID-19 outbreaks. In fact, according to an academic study, independent findings from researchers at Harvard, Brown, and the University of Chicago agree that location of a nursing home was the determining factor in outbreaks. Asymptomatic spread and lack of testing also played a role but quality rating did not.
Do you have questions about COVID-19?
Email us at questions@consonushealth.com and we will answer commonly asked questions.
Check back next Friday for more FAQs.
June 5, 2020
FAQ Friday
We’re back this week with more COVID-19 questions. We’re providing answers and pairing them with resources. Read on!
1. How can I learn more about the 3 tranches and the CMS reopening guidance to states?
If you missed the McKnight’s Online Forum, featuring Steve Fogg and April Diaz, you can still get a copy of the presentation. In this session, Steve breaks down the 3 tranches and the variables related thereto. He provides specific examples of how this may play our in your facility and what you need to plan for. Additionally, April dissects the CMS reopening guidance to states. She spends some time reviewing the testing requirements and identifies important steps facilities should consider as they approach reopening.
2. How have my ancillary providers partnered with me during COVID-19?
The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the senior care industry in ways we would have never imagined. There’s no playbook for these unprecedented times. As a provider, you may need to lean on your ancillary partners more than normal and attributes that may not have been important in the past are now more important than ever.
If you are a Consonus customer, you know that we’ve kept consistent pricing, provided consistent communication and education, and demonstrated resilience, among other things during this challenging time. We believe in being a partner and not just another vendor.
If you are not a current Consonus customer, we encourage you to evaluate your ancillary providers to determine the level of partnership they have provided during these trying times.
Download Ancillary Provider Scorecard
3. Is there a proper way to exit a Zoom call when you are on-camera?
We hosted a webinar last week, exclusively for Consonus customers. If you were one of the lucky ones to join live, you may have seen our CEO, Phil Fogg, trying to sneak out of the presentation without being seen. This epic fail was caught on camera and in case you missed it, we’re rehashing it in the first rendition of “Good-er News”, a series of feel good reports relevant to the senior care industry. In challenging times like these, it’s important to look for the brighter side of things.
Watch the video below!
Do you have questions about COVID-19?
Email us at questions@consonushealth.com and we will answer commonly asked questions.
Check back next Friday for more FAQs.
May 29, 2020
FAQ Friday
Today’s update is quick, so read on for the latest COVID-19 FAQs.
1.When is the next webinar opportunity to learn about reopening strategies and future financial scenarios?
We are partnering with McKnight’s Long Term Care News to bring CE-approved education to you in their COVID-19 Online Forum. Register today to learn more about reopening, testing, and the financial future.
WHAT: Navigating COVID-19: Clinical Best Practices & Financial Future
WHEN: Thursday, June 4th at 7:30am PST
FEATURING: Steve Fogg, CFO, Marquis Companies & Consonus Healthcare and April Diaz, VP Clinical Services, Marquis Companies
REGISTRATION: Learn more about the presentation description here. Register today by clicking here.
2. How are you handling COVID-19 testing for rehab staff?
At this time, we are asking that rehab staff be included in your facility testing plan. If you need to make other arrangements, please let your area director know.
3. As we prepare for the phased in reopening strategies that differ throughout the nation, how can we safely reopen?
We recently came across this article from Atul Gawande in The New Yorker.
“What are the rules for reëntry? Is there any place that has figured out a way to open and have employees work safely, with one another and with their customers? Well, yes: in health care.”
Read the article to learn what Atul Gawande believes are the pillars for a safe reopening process.
Do you have questions about COVID-19?
Email us at questions@consonushealth.com and we will answer commonly asked questions.
Check back next Friday for more FAQs.
May 22, 2020
FAQ Friday
This week, we are addressing the question on everyone’s mind…What does a safe reopening strategy look like? There are many uncertainties and considerations. Reopening guidance is coming from state and county officials, CMS, and AHCA. It’s complicated, there is no playbook, and it comes with challenges, including costly testing requirements.
Q: As America begins to reopen, how do we know when it’s safe to reopen our facilities and how do we stay in compliance with the guidance from state officials and CMS?
A: Our President and CEO, Phil Fogg, is the Vice-Chair of AHCA and has just been appointed to the new Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes ordered by President Trump. He is having extensive conversations regarding the reopening plans and we will keep Consonus Customers up-to-date on the latest guidance and strategies.
Q: What is the latest guidance from CMS about reopening?
A: On 5/18/2020 CMS released a Memo and Guidance regarding reopening.
Guidance Directed To:
- The Guidance is directed to state leaders, towards developing their policies related to Nursing Homes and Reopening.
- Each state will issue their guidance/recommendations specific to that state’s LTC facilities.
- Providers should reference and look for the specific guidance and requirements as they are issued from your individual states.
On 5/19/2020, CDC released two updated resources:
Performing Facility-Wide SARS CoV-2 Testing in Nursing homes
Testing Guidance for Nursing Homes
This is a topic that continues to evolve and can vary from state-to-state and county-to-county. We’ll be sharing our interpretations of the guidelines and our reopening strategies in two education opportunities, listed at the bottom of this update.
Q: What is Consonus Pharmacy’s reopening plan?
A: Consonus Pharmacy’s reopening plan will be coordinated in conjunction with CMS’s Phase III.
- The plan will follow CDC and state guidance and will factor in consideration of your corporate and facility protocols.
- Consonus pharmacy modified operations to meet the CDC and CMS restrictions under Covid 19 while helping to maintain your compliance with CMS Rules of Participation.
- Modifications included:
- Pharmacist medication regimen reviews via remote health record access.
- Education programming and QAPI attendance via web conference and nurse consultation via electronic health record checks and online conferencing.
- Delivery via disposable packaging and no touch protocols.
- We have a listing of considerations for prioritization of any onsite consultation when the time is right and look forward to working with you in partnership as you formulate your reopening plans.
Q: How can I stay up-to-date with latest guidance on reopening and how do I start preparing strategies for my facility or community?
A: There are two education opportunities coming up. See details below.
FOR CONSONUS CUSTOMERS:
Reopening guidance is coming from local state and county officials as well as CMS. It’s complicated, there is no playbook, and it comes with challenges, including testing requirements. In an upcoming webinar for Consonus Customers, we are addressing reopening strategies and testing requirements.
WHAT: COVID-19 Reopening Strategies Webinar
WHEN: Friday, May 29th from 9:00-10:00am PST
FEATURING: Phil Fogg, CEO, Marquis Companies & Consonus Healthcare and April Diaz, VP Clinical Services, Marquis Companies
REGISTRATION: This webinar is invite-only. Invites were sent on May 21st. If you would like more information, please contact us to learn more.
FOR ALL PROVIDERS:
We are partnering with McKnight’s Long Term Care News to bring CE-approved education to you in their COVID-19 Online Forum. Register today to learn more about reopening, testing, and the financial future.
WHAT: Navigating COVID-19: Clinical Best Practices & Financial Future
WHEN: Thursday, June 4th at 7:30am PST
FEATURING: Steve Fogg, CFO, Marquis Companies & Consonus Healthcare and April Diaz, VP Clinical Services, Marquis Companies
REGISTRATION: Register today by clicking here.
Do you have questions about COVID-19?
Email us at questions@consonushealth.com and we will answer commonly asked questions.
Check back next Friday for more FAQs.
May 15, 2020
FAQ Friday
We’re back this week with more COVID-19 questions. We’re providing answers and pairing them with resources. Read on!
Q: What is the latest criteria for return to work for healthcare personnel with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?
A: CDC released new guidance on April 30, 2020. The summary of recent changes includes:
- Changed the name of the ‘non-test-based strategy’ to the ‘symptom-based strategy’ for those with symptoms and the ‘time-based-strategy’ for those without symptoms, and updated these to extend the duration of exclusion from work to at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared. This update was made based on evidence suggesting a longer duration of culture-able viral shedding and will be revised as additional evidence becomes available.
- Based on this extension of the symptom-based and time-based strategies, language about the test-based strategy being preferred was removed.
- Removed specifying use of nasopharyngeal swab collection for the Test-Based Strategy and linked to the Interim Guidelines for Collectin, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), so that the most current specimen collection strategies are recommended.
Read the Consonus Employee Return to Work with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 Policy
Q: As we continue to deal with COVID-19, where can we find education and strategies to improve depression and anxiety symptoms in our residents living with dementia?
A: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to how we live our lives. For our residents, the altered daily routines, uncertainty and social isolation, can lead to stress, fear, sadness and loneliness. Mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, can worsen. For those living with dementia, it may even be harder to cope as they may or may not be able to fully comprehend the reasoning behind all the changes. Individuals living with dementia are therefore at a greatly increased risk for depression and anxiety due to isolation and changes in daily routine they have been experiencing. Recognizing changes that may signal symptoms of a mood or emotional disorder is vital in providing the best possible care and responding effectively.
Consonus pharmacy is committed to providing resources and education for our Memory Care communities. We believe in the philosophy of Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care and the goal to provide a positive dementia care culture. We have consultants who are certified trainers for Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach® to Care (PAC) and educate on dementia related awareness and provide knowledge and skill development in group settings. Please reach out to your consultant if you are interested in resources or education around this topic.
We are pleased to announce that Teepa Snow is presenting a live webinar on to help providers recognize and respond more accurately to depression and anxiety to reduce the chances for escalation and ‘non-helpful’ hospitalizations. This is a free event for all on May 28th from 12:00-1:00 PM PST.
Q: What else can we do to help lift the spirits of residents and staff during this time?
A: Consonus has created a three-part Positivity Campaign to help lift the spirits of our residents and staff. In addition, we have joined you in celebrating the efforts of all health care staff working in our facilities and communities. Our healthcare workers have been nothing short of heroes! We launched a movement to show staff how grateful we are for the sacrifices they are making as we work together to combat COVID-19. To show our gratitude, we created posters, flyers, stickers and window clings for our facilities and communities. We see many are proudly displaying them. With the help of your staff, customers, friends, family, and communities we are celebrating vitality in the lives of seniors and senior healthcare workers every day!
If you would like more stickers or window clings, please reach out to your consultant nurse or pharmacist or your rehab area director.
#HealthcareHeroes #VirtuallyVital #SendSeniorsLove
Learn about the Positivity Campaign
Do you have questions about COVID-19?
Email us at questions@consonushealth.com and we will answer commonly asked questions.
Check back next Friday for more FAQs.
May 8, 2020
FAQ Friday
We’re back this week with more COVID-19 questions. We’re providing answers and pairing them with resources. Read on!
Q: I have a few residents that are not currently signed up with Consonus Pharmacy within my assisted living community and the family is no longer able to pick up medications and deliver them. How might I help the individual residents or families?
A: We understand this can be a challenging time and the last thing we want is for a resident to worry about receiving and managing their medications. We’re outlining 5 ways Consonus Pharmacy can help minimize disruptions and maintain medication safety.
Q: What do I need to know about the CMS final rule QSO-20-29 that was issued on May 6, 2020?
A: On May 6, 2020, CMS released QSO-20-29, “Interim Final Rule Updating Requirements for Notification of Confirmed and Suspected COVID-19 Cases Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes.” This includes updates on Infection Control Surveys and Updated Infection Control Survey Template.
New F tags:
- F884 – Reporting to CDC – COVID19 NSHN
- Effective 5/1/2020. First reporting to be by 11:59 on 5/17/2020
- Grace period of 2 weeks given up to 5/24/2020.
- Expectation to begin now.
- If not met and cited on Federal /State IC survey.
- CMP will be issued $1,000 first occurrence, increasing by week of non-compliance by $500. ($1500)
-
- F885 – Notification to resident and families of COVID positive
- When positive COVID resident or staff, notifications by 5pm the next day.
- Each subsequent Positive case of staff or residents
- Weekly updates when Positive cases for staff / residents.
CDC’s NHSN is supporting the nation’s COVID-19 response by introducing a new COVID-19 Module for Long Term Care Facilities.
Are you enrolled and ready for the mandatory reporting? Click here for more information.
Do you have questions about COVID-19?
Email us at questions@consonushealth.com and we will answer commonly asked questions.
Check back next Friday for more FAQs.
May 1, 2020
FAQ Friday
We’re back this week with four more COVID-19 questions. We’re providing answers and pairing them with resources. Read on!
Q: How long will this last? How bad could it get? How long will it take to get back to normal?
A: Phil Fogg, CEO of Marquis Companies and Consonus Healthcare, answers these questions in a webinar presentation with McKnight’s Long Term Care News. He shares COVID-19 lessons learned, why leadership counts, and a look into the future.
Q: How are you managing media inquiries? What is your COVID-19 media plan?
A: Today, we are faced with the reality that if there is a COVID-19 case in a hospital, it’s a statistic, but in a skilled nursing facility, it’s a story. In addition, media inquiries are frequent as reporters are searching for COVID-19 headlines and stories. The goal is to stay out of the headlines while providing relevant and accurate information. If a reporter is interested in your facility, the next goal is to evaluate the inquiry, identify the best response strategy and process, and respond in a timely manner. In an ideal world, the responsibility of managing media could be centralized, when possible, so facility management can stay focused on staff and resident safety. Like you, we’ve been faced with countless media inquiries and we’re sharing the toolkit and plan we implemented to navigate these challenging times.
View the COVID-19 Media Plan Toolkit
Q: What do we need to know about Remdesivir use for COVID-19?
A: Dr. Fauci says Remdesivir is a “very important first step” in fighting coronavirus and will set a new “standard of care” for treatment. The Consonus Pharmacy team put together 6 things to know about Remdesivir.
View the FAQ for Remdesivir COVID-19
Q: As CMS allowed only nominal waivers to the Rules of Participation, how have the Consonus Pharmacy consultants adapted services to maintain regulatory requirements to meet facility and community needs?
A: The Consonus Pharmacy consulting team adapted quickly to innovate ways of working within the COVID-19 restrictions. We are pleased to announce through leveraging of technology and remote resources that there were no delays in scheduled visits by the nurse and pharmacist teams. Not only are our nurse and pharmacist consultants helping customers navigate COVID-19 issues that may arise, but also, we are continuing to monitor the safety and compliance of existing systems. We are sharing just a few ways that Consonus Pharmacy consultants have quickly adapted and are monitoring remotely.
Q: How do I make decisions about potentially exposed staff when there is a positive COVID-19 resident or staff member at our facility/community?
A: CDC has outlined a clear process to determine appropriate work restrictions once there is a positive COVID-19 patient/resident or employee in the facility. It can be found here.
- Determine who had contact with this person during the exposure period (2 days prior to the onset of symptoms through current).
- Determine the type of contact they had as it relates to distance, amount of time, procedures being completed and type of PPE worn.
- Use the grid at the CDC website to determine the risk level for each person (None, Low, Med, High).
- Follow the work restriction based on the risk level.
Using this guidance, here are a couple of potential scenarios.
Please note the importance of sharing information about positive residents and staff in your facility/community with your Consonus Rehab Director and Area Director immediately, so we can help manage the process of determining risk to our employees and implementing appropriate work restrictions in a timely manner.
Do you have questions about COVID-19?
Email us at questions@consonushealth.com and we will answer commonly asked questions.
Check back next Friday for more FAQs.
April 24, 2020
FAQ Friday
At Consonus, we believe in honesty and transparency. We believe in learning from one another and partnering together. We believe in bringing forward actionable information. With Marquis Companies, a post-acute provider, as our parent, Consonus is uniquely qualified to share best practices. Last week, we shared a video of Laurie Schadegg Thomas interviewing Phil Fogg about where our industry is headed. We asked you to send us questions.
You Asked! Here’s Our Answers!
Q: How do you keep up staff morale during a time like this and how do you celebrate staff?
A: Healthcare workers around the world are being acknowledged for their extraordinary efforts during this crisis. Senior healthcare workers have not made the highlights of mainstream media. But day after day, night after night, the staff walk through the doors of senior care campuses across the nation, ready for service. Only one word does them justice: Heroes. To this end, we started a positivity program to celebrate our Healthcare Heroes and express our gratitude to all senior healthcare staff who are making sacrifices around the world to care for those in need. Join the movement!
Watch the video and download your free #HealthcareHeroes printable
Q: How do you ensure families and staff hear from you about a positive COVID case before the media? What are you communication protocols under the new CMS requirements?
A: Communication with staff, residents, and responsible parties during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical. It’s imperative that staff and families learn about COVID changes in their environment directly from the provider, rather than the media. We are sharing 7 steps for communicating during COVID-19 and an easy-to-follow flow chart for communication practices that meet the new CMS guidelines.
View COVID-19 communication resources
Q: As a facility, how do I know if there are drug supply concerns that will impact my patients?
A: Determining fact and fiction, related to drug supply issues can be very challenging during this Pandemic. Be attentive to messaging of mainstream media channels because this is where your patients and families are receiving their information. This may not be entirely accurate for your particular area, so working with trusted clinical sources, such as your pharmacy partner is imperative. Your pharmacy partner should be able to give you up-to-date information related to their direct supply chain and any current challenges that are on the horizon. Consonus Pharmacy has proactively kept customers up-to-date on current supply chain status.
Read the latest Medication Supply Update
Q: How should we do our pro forma projections?
A: All senior care organizations are being affected by COVID-19, at varying degrees. The financial impact is tangible. It will be important to identify how your organization is being impacted so you can plan for cash flow projections. We created an example pro forma under three different facility scenarios and provided a blank worksheet copy so you can fill in your own financial projections.
View Financial Impact Analysis Worksheet
Do you have questions about COVID-19?
Email us at questions@consonushealth.com and we will answer commonly asked questions.
Check back next Friday for more FAQs.
April 15, 2020
Laurie Schadegg Thomas, VP of Strategic Development for Consonus interviews Phil Fogg, Marquis/Consonus CEO and Vice Chair of American Healthcare Association about the current COVID-19 situation and where our industry is headed.
What COVID-19 information would be helpful to you?
At Consonus, we are committed to providing updates on the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to keep staff and residents safe.
With Marquis Companies, a post-acute provider, as our parent, Consonus is able to share best practices.
At this point in the pandemic, our organization has gone through it all and we have resources we are willing to share but don’t want to be presumptive about what you need.
We’d like to hear from you! Send your questions to questions@consonushealth.com.
April 7, 2020
#HealthcareHeroes
“Our healthcare workers have been nothing short of heroes”.
Phil Fogg, CEO of Marquis Companies and Consonus Healthcare shares a new way you can support Healthcare Heroes who are working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch the video!
To support #HealthcareHeroes, follow these steps:
1. Download your free #HealthcareHeroes printable here or purchase your own here
2. Find a place to proudly display the You Are Vital poster or sticker
3. Take a picture of yourself with it and post to social media