The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.

Resources

Choosing Safe Activities by CDC:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/participate-in-activities.html

Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Providers by the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/providers/index.html

Governor’s partial list of resources for businesses and workers affected by Coronavirus outbreak:
https://www.governor.wa.gov/node/439842?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Centers for Disease Control- Factsheets, education about COVID-19 and current information:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/share-facts.html

Centers for Disease Control- Factsheet on how to prevent spread in long-term care facilities https://www.cdc.gov/longtermcare/index.html

Administration on Community Living:  https://acl.gov/COVID-19

January 28, 2021- 25 Common Nursing Home Problems and How to Resolve Them 

September 10, 2020 “Staying Connected Enrichment Activities ” The National Consumer Voice-Connection Matters

Washington State Department of Health, February 2020  “Non-Pharmaceuticals Interventions (NPI) Implementation Guide ”

 

Updates

Click here to get updates on Governor’s Proclamations

Information for Long-term Care Resident Families from the State Department of Health and Social Services https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/famhelp-facility-status-and-information

CDC updates for clinicians, long-term care, and health care professionals updates held weekly by phone or by web.  Visit: https://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls.

To subscribe to COVID-19 Literature Situation Report is a daily (M-F) newsletter that provides a succinct summary of the latest scientific literature related to the COVID-19 pandemic: COVID-19 Literature Situation Report

Washington State Department of Health’s website. Updated daily for new information. Click on the box “COVID 19” on the home page: https://www.doh.wa.gov/

September 21, 2021, CMS Launches New Medicare.gov Tool to Compare Nursing Home Vaccination Rates  CMS 

August 24, 2021, RCS-DSHS letter to Adult Family Home Provider:  AFH Incentive – Acute Care Hospital Discharges 

June 24, 2021, RCS-DSHS letter to LTC Facilities:  LTC Facilities To Follow Safe Start Plan Beyond 6.30.2021 

April 30, 2021- DSHS and DOH:  NH ICF IID Safe Start CDC Guidance (Updated) 

March 29, 2021- CDC:  Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes (Updated)  

March 19, 2021-Safe Start Plan- Adult Family Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Enhanced Services Facilities 

March 19, 2021- Safe Start Plan- Nursing Homes, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities 

March 16, 2021 – Department of Health:  Interim Guidance for Transferring Residents between Long-Term Care and other Healthcare Settings 

March 10, 2021 –  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nursing Home Visitation – COVID-19 (Revised) 

March 10, 2021 – Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination

December 21, 2020 – Interim COVID-19 Outbreak Definition for Healthcare Settings 

December 7, 2020 – Proclamations extension till December 7, 2020, due to COVID-19 

November 18, 2020 – Reminder To Allow Health Care Provider Visits 

August 17, 2020 – Update proclamation 20-66:  Long-Term Care – Operations and Visitation 
Proclamation by the Governor Amending Proclamations 20-05, 20-06, 20-10, 20-16, 20-17,20-18 and 20-52 

August 12, 2020, RCS-DSHS letter to LTC Facilities:  Safe Recommendations & Requirements for LTC Requirements Settings 

August 3, 2020 “LTCOmbuds Re-entry Notification” 

July 15, 2020, Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. See updated information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html

07/09/2020, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:  Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System updates, Nursing Home Staff Counts, Frequently Asked Questions, and Access to Ombudsman (REVISED) .

DSHS releases guidance to providers on resident access to outings and community issued on June 16, 2020. “Reopening visits to the community” in all licensed long-care settings in Washington State:  Reopening visits to the community Adult Family Home ; Reopening visits to the community Assisted Living Facility ; Reopening visits to the community Nursing Homes .

05/29/2020, Memo to WA LTC Ombudsmen regarding Governor’s Proclamations  impacts on Residents Rights.

05/28/2020, Order Of Secretary Of Health 20-02 LTCF Testing . Proclamation by Secretary of the Department of Health ordering testing in long-term care facilities and staff.

05/26/2020, DSHS Dear Provider letters about WINDOW visitations .

05/01/2020, CDC.  Responding to Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes . This document outlines considerations related to Resident cohorts, admissions and readmissions, response to newly identified COVID positive staff or residents, and the use of testing to inform cohorting.

04/06/2020 “Dear Provider Letter ” from RCS/DSHS on Personal Protection Equipment orders for licensed long-term care facilities

DSHS-RCS:  “Dear Provider Letter” COVID-19 Information as of March 25, 2020 

Testing and Coverage of costs related to testing from the Office of the Washington State Insurance Commissioner:  https://www.insurance.wa.gov/health-insurance-and-coronavirus-covid-19-frequently-asked-questions

Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System updates, Nursing Home Staff Counts, Frequently Asked Questions, and Access to Ombudsman (REVISED) 

 

Archived

Amended November 13, 2020 “Postponed: RCS Reimplementation Of Inspection And Investigation Activities” 

September 10, 2020, Changes to Safe Start For Long-Term Care Recommendations And Requirements 

August 2020 “Safe Start for Long Term Care Recommendations and Requirements: Nursing Homes and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities” LTC Safe Start NH-ICF-IID 

06/12/2020, Request for extension of Governor Proclamations made by DSHS Secretary Strange .

06/02/2020, Four Corners letter Enclosure Proclamation Extension from DSHS .

05/02/2020, Four Corners letter from ALTSA (Final) .

6/02/2020,  Evictions and Related Housing Practices. Proclamation by the Governor Extending and Amending 20-05, 20-19, and 20-19.1 .

05/01/2020 CDC. Testing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes . This document outlines considerations for the use of test-based strategies for preventing COVID-19 transmission.

Governor’s announcement “State of Emergency” on 02/29/20 can be found at:
https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-issues-covid-19-emergency-proclamation

Updated COVID-19 Specific announcements include Washington “Safe Start Plans” and Proclamations:  https://medium.com/wagovernor

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Questions or Concerns

If you are concerned or have questions about your loved ones currently living in a long-term care facility in Washington State, you can contact us via phone or email. Alternatively, you may file a complaint.

HOTLINE: 1-800-562-6028
TTY USERS: 1-800-737-7931
Email: ltcop@mschelps.org