In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities and dedicated hospice facilities—hereafter collectively referred to as post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) facilities—may need to adjust operations and standards of care in order to preserve and effectively allocate limited facility and healthcare system resources in the face of overwhelming demand due to the national public health emergency response. While a number of frameworks, guidance documents, and resources are available to help healthcare systems and stakeholders prepare for and respond to the emergence of crisis standards of care (CSC), relatively few address the unique circumstances and information needs of PALTC facilities.

This document provides PALTC facilities an overview of general considerations, potential strategies, and existing resources that they may use to inform changes to their operations and care processes. It is intended to complement, not replace, existing state and/or local guidance and plans for implementing CSC. Similarly, sample tools and resources are provided for illustrative purposes only and should be modified to locally adopted protocols as appropriate.

Questions?

Contact:

Laura Hofmann, MSN, RN – Director of Clinical and Nursing Facility Regulatory Services
c: 425-231-4804