The VDH has been granted assistance through a US Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) program to use health and medical task force teams to provide non-regulatory infection prevention and control assessments (IPCAs) in facilities who need these to progress through the nursing home reopening phases. Facilities can take advantage of the HHS IPCA teams to provide specialized attention, facility specific solutions, ensure readiness for inspection, and provide feedback ahead of regulatory CMS surveys that are scheduled to happen by July 31.

It is important to note that the IPCAs are voluntary, will be conducted using the CDC COVID-19 ICAR tool, and HHS IPCA teams will bring their own PPE. 

Background and Additional Information

VDH requested 12 teams of 2-3 infection prevention and control specialists to be assigned regionally to conduct IPCAs for a 30 day period. The IPCA teams will be staffed by infection control nurses from the Veterans Affairs (VA). VDH received word of approval on June 12 and is required to identify and schedule assessments by June 23, 2020. 

Once teams are deployed, VDH is aiming to ensure that local health departments (LHDs) are notified when a facility is scheduled for an IPCA so that a LHD staff member may be onsite if desired.  All reports and findings will be shared with the LHDs. The schedule will also be shared with OLC.

To maximize the time and resources provided by the HHS IPCA teams, skilled nursing facilities will be prioritized. VDH has asked LHDs to share lists of facilities that they know of or think might want to take advantage of this resource. 

Both nursing facilities and assisted living facilities are being given the opportunity to volunteer for the HHS IPCAs. Interested facilities can send the following information to Angela Spleen:

1. Facility Name
2. Facility Point of Contact Name(s)
3. Facility Point of Contact Phone Number(s)
4. Facility Point of Contact Email(s)