Effective March 18, 2020, Residential Care Services has received direction from the COVID -19 Long Term Care Incident Command to complete focused reviews of Nursing Home infection control procedures and assess current Personal Protective Equipment supplies.

We will not cite for lack of PPE per the direction of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, however this information is important for us to report up to the Incident Command.

The authority to complete these inspections is at RCW 18.51.210.

RCW 18.51.210

Authority to enter and inspect nursing home—Advance notice—Defense.

(1) Any duly authorized officer, employee, or agent of the department may enter and inspect any nursing home, including, but not limited to, interviewing residents and reviewing records, at any time to enforce any provision of this chapter. Inspections conducted pursuant to complaints filed with the department shall be conducted in such a manner as to ensure maximum effectiveness. No advance notice shall be given of any inspection conducted pursuant to this chapter unless previously and specifically authorized by the secretary or required by federal law.

LeadingAge Washington’s, Deb Murphy, Responds to RCS Directive

In light of the CMS pending directive to suspend all survey activities, excluding IJ related complaints or removal of IJ findings, this “focused review” effort is misguided and contradicts the thoughtful and clear direction of CMS.  I urge you to pull back on this directive unless you plan to complete this activity through off-site means.  The risk of spreading COVID is too great among this high risk population. 

As you know, a person can be infected, asymptomatic, and pass the disease person to person.  We must protect our health care staff and our residents.  To that end, I again ask that this directive be immediately rescinded.  

Alternatively, please conduct any PPE inventory/supply needs via electronic survey.  Limit any infection control procedure reviews, preferably off-site, to buildings with known COVID.  

Last request, please consider conducting at least once a week check-ins with LeadingAge Washington and Washington Health Care Association. It is important that we inform each other of the needs and activities of our long term care providers and partner on these important developments as we work to prevent and mitigate the spread of Coronavirus.

Questions?

Contact:

Laura Hofmann, MSN, RN
Director of Clinical and Nursing Facility Regulatory Services

LeadingAge Washington | c: 360-691-9281