BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 4, 2020)--As news outlets focus on nursing facilities' role in the spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), homecare disaster preparation consultants and the National Association for Homecare (NAHC) have released guidelines for home health care agencies.
RBC Limited has shared a checklist for COVID-19 homecare and hospice agencies dated March 3, 2020. It includes sections for creating situational awareness, infection control and more.
You can learn more about creating a disaster plan by reading HomeCare's March story by emergency preparedness experts Sharon Fredrichs and Stephanie Phillips of S&S Home Care Consulting.
In addition, NAHC also shared LHC Group's Coronavirus disease response and management policy, which it set up in response to the Centers for Disease Control's recommendations. The Louisiana-based company has 32,000 employees operating in 35 states and the District of Columbia.
In a news conference on Monday, Dr. David Gifford, chief medical office for the American Health Care Association, said that for his group's members--primarily skilled nursing facilities and other long-term care outlets--should follow their influenza plans and infection control measures in response to Coronavirus. He said that home health agencies should refer to the CDC website but that professional in-home caregivers should follow similar precautions to those in institutions, including wearing a mask, gown and gloves when working with patients in the home.
