Synergy decorative line

Urgent image

On Friday, September 23, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updates to COVID-19 recommendations for healthcare settings providers have been waiting to receive. These recommendations take effect immediately, and CMS has updated nursing home requirements and sub-regulatory guidance through memos (QSO-20-38-NH and QSO-20-9-NH).

The key updates in the recommendations include:

  • Vaccination status is no longer used to inform source control, screening testing, or post-exposure recommendations
  • Nursing home-specific guidance that recommended more stringent mitigation measures for nursing homes than other healthcare settings were retired – setting-specific recommendations have been added to Section 3 of the main guidance

Other changes include:

  • Updated circumstances when the use of source control is recommended
  • Updated circumstances when universal use of personal protective equipment should be considered
  • Updated recommendations for testing frequency to detect potential for variants with shorter incubation periods and to address the risk for false negative antigen tests in people without symptoms.
  • Clarified that screening testing of asymptomatic healthcare personnel, including those in nursing homes, is at the discretion of the healthcare facility
  • Updated to note that, in general, asymptomatic patients no longer require empiric use of Transmission-Based Precautions following close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Archived the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes and special considerations for nursing homes not otherwise covered in Sections 1 and 2 were added to Section 3: Setting-specific considerations
    • Updated screening testing recommendations for nursing home admissions
  • Clarified the types of long-term care settings for whom the healthcare infection prevention and control recommendations apply
Synergy decorative line

We would love to share all of our Synergy Care Success stories with you! Be sure to follow us on social media. We promise these stories will bring a smile to your day!

Synergy Care BuffaloSynergy Care TrustCare Management
Synergy decorative line

Synergy Care box image

We are devoted in our commitment to providing education and updates to you as they become available. Thank you for your hard work and commitment through these ever-changing times.