Request for documentation timelines

 

Dear Licensed Healthcare Entities, The department is dedicated to improving the survey process. However, we have encountered a consistent challenge: receiving the requested documentation in a timely manner during surveys or complaint investigations. This delay prolongs the survey and extends the time surveyors need to spend on-site. To improve this process, your cooperation is crucial. Chapter 2 states: 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 2, part 2.10.5, the licensee is required to provide, upon request, access to or copies of the following to the Department to facilitate regulatory oversight: (A) Individual client records.   (B) Reports and information required by the Department, which may include staffing reports, census data, statistical information, and any other records specified by the Department. To ensure a smooth process, the department requests that all documentation be provided within 2 hours of the request. If any mitigating circumstances prevent you from meeting this timeline, please communicate this to the surveyors promptly. Thank you for your attention and cooperation.

Feedback on proposed changes to the Epidemic and Communicable Disease Control rule

 

To: Facility administrators, infection preventionists, and medical officers From: Communicable Disease Branch, Disease Control and Public Health Response   The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response and Office of STI, HIV, and Viral Hepatitis at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are requesting stakeholder feedback to proposed changes to 6 Code of Colorado Regulations 1009-1 (6 CCR 1009-1): Epidemic and Communicable Disease Control.    6 CCR 1009-1 names the communicable diseases that are reportable to CDPHE and local public health agencies in order to protect the public’s health. As part of this, this set of rules: Details how these conditions must be reported to CDPHE, Includes language about access to pertinent medical records and public health authority to access those records, as necessary, to perform investigations, and  Outlines public health’s authority to investigate causes of epidemic and communicable diseases to implement disease control measures. Go to CDPHE’s disease reporting web page to review the proposed changes, information on how to provide feedback about any of the rules in 6 CCR 1009-1, and for the rulemaking process and timeline.   If you have further questions about the rulemaking process, email cdphe_dcphr_planning@state.co.us. .

EVS Infection Prevention & Control Workshops

 

To: Healthcare Professionals From: CDPHE’s HAI Project Firstline Team Project Firstline provides infection control training for frontline healthcare workers on how to recognize and stop infection risks. CDPHE’s Project Firstline team has developed training specific to the role of our EVS professionals.   EVS-specific infection prevention and control training will be covered over the course of three sessions. Topics include the concept of infection control, environmental cleaning and disinfection, linen and laundry, and medical waste.   To accommodate various schedules, we have created four “tracks” that include three separate sessions to cover the curriculum in half hour sessions. Dates for each session are listed for each track below. Register in advance.   Track 1: July 16, July 23, and July 30 at 8:00 am Track 2: July 17, July 24, and July 31 at 10:00 am   Track 3: July 18, July 25, and August 1 at 2:00 pm  *Spanish* Track: August 13, August 20, and August 27 at 8:00 am     If you have questions, email cdphe_project_firstline@state.co.us. .

Recall of Urology and Operating Room Kits

 

To: Infection Prevention Partners From:  CDPHE HAI/AR Program Dear IP Partners, We wanted to update you about an additional recall related to the Nurse Assist recall issued in November.   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Safety Communication notifying that "Cardinal Health issued a medical device recall on December 5, 2023, for its Covidien and Cardinal Health™ brand urology and operating room-specific kits and trays that contain 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation USP and sterile water for irrigation USP supplied by Nurse Assist."   The Safety Communication provides a link to affected Covidien and Cardinal Health™ brand codes and lot numbers.   Please note:   Assure the timely and effective removal of these products according to the safety communication. Reports of adverse events associated with use of these recalled products can be transmitted via MedWatch. Notify CDPHE if you suspect a healthcare-associated infection or outbreak associated with recalled saline and sterile water products.    Please refer to the FDA Safety Communication for more details. To report an outbreak please email the CDPHE HAI/AR Program at cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us or call the communicable disease line at 303-692-2700 (or 303-370-9395 after hours). For further information: Contact the CDPHE HAI/AR Program at cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us .

Public Notice Stakeholder November 9, 2023 Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee

To: All Stakeholders interested in the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee   From: HFEMSD   When:  November 9, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.   Online: Zoom meeting Audio line: 719-359-4580, Meeting ID: 706 298 107, Password: 385375    The Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee will facilitate one final meeting in November to complete the discussion of the transition of the Behavioral Health Entity License from CDPHE to the Behavioral Health Administration, and to review what regulatory authority remains with CDPHE for mental health services. Meeting documents, schedules and archived agendas are available on the department website (click on link below and then click on large font that says, “MEETING INFORMATION”):  https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/behavioral-health-entity-implementation-and-advisory-committee  A draft agenda will be available on this site no later than one week in advance. Sign up here if interested in receiving updates and public notice correspondence:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdROO_GY8Iwl0rJLuwchy7qu9fY09QZGrq_3dDXZquNSfyySQ/viewform   If you have any questions or comments prior to the meeting, feel free to contact Jane Flournoy at Jane.Flournoy@state.co.us.

 

Clarification on FGI Guidelines Edition Being Utilized in Colorado

TO: Facility administrators and building operations managers   FROM: CDPHE HFEMS Division, FGI Plan Review & Safety Services Unit   As most of you are aware, the CDPHE licensing rule 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 2, Part 3 requires a Facility Guidelines Review and subsequent approval for all newly licensed health care facilities, as well as any qualifying renovations and/or additions to existing licensed health care facilities.   The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) updates their Guidelines books every four years. Although FGI has published the 2022 edition of the Guidelines, the Colorado Board of Health has not yet approved the 2022 edition as the edition being utilized in Colorado. Currently, CDPHE still enforces the 2018 edition of the Guidelines for our architectural plan review process. The update process for adoption of the 2022 Guidelines is scheduled to begin sometime in early 2024. At this time, we are unsure how long that update process will take. Until that time comes, we will continue to review all licensed health care projects to the 2018 edition of the Guidelines.   We would also like to remind you that our FGI team conducts an on-line quarterly news/Q&A presentation. This allows us to provide you all with any new Colorado FGI-related news and information as well as an opportunity for you to ask us questions in a forum where numerous people can learn at the same time. If you would like to have your email address added to our notification list, please email our team at the address below and we’ll happily include you. You may also forward this invite to any other parties that you feel may have interest.   If you have any questions or need further information, please see our FGI team web page at    https://cdphe.colorado.gov/facility-guidelines-institute-fgi   You can also email the FGI Plan Review and Safety Services team at FGIreview@state.co.us. 

Public Notice Stakeholder September 14, 2023 Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee

 

To: All Stakeholders interested in the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee From: HFEMSD   When:  September 14, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.   Where:   Online: Zoom meeting Audio line: 719-359-4580, Meeting ID: 706 298 107, Password: 385375  The Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee will meet in September to continue the discussion of the transition of the Behavioral Health Entity License from CDPHE to the newly-formed Behavioral Health Administration. Meeting documents, schedules and archived agendas are available on the department website (click on link below and then click on large font that says, “MEETING INFORMATION”):  https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/behavioral-health-entity-implementation-and-advisory-committee  A draft agenda will be available on this site no later than one week in advance. Sign up here if interested in receiving updates and public notice correspondence: If you have any questions or comments prior to the meeting, feel free to contact Jane Flournoy at Jane.Flournoy@state.co.us.

Behavioral Health Entity Implementation & Advisory Committee: Application Now Available

 

To: Behavioral Health Providers, Consumers of Behavioral Health Services, Advocates, and Interested Parties From: The Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is currently accepting applications for the Behavioral Heath Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee (BHE-IAC) for the role of: A Mental Health provider (not a Community Mental Health Center) Per statutory requirements with the passage of House Bill 19-1237, specifically addressing the development of a licensing structure for Behavioral Health Entities (BHE), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has a responsibility to establish, facilitate and streamline minimum standards and regulations for BHE’s in the State of Colorado. The intent of creating the Behavioral Health Entity License was to: Provide a single, flexible license category under which community-based behavioral health service providers can provide integrated mental health disorder, alcohol use disorder, and substance use disorder services and meet a consumer’s continuum of needs, from crisis stabilization to ongoing treatment; Provide a regulatory framework for innovative behavioral health service delivery models to meet the needs of both individuals and communities; Increase parity in the oversight and protection of consumers’ health, safety, and welfare between physical health and behavioral health regardless of the payment source; and to lastly, Streamline and consolidate the current regulatory structure to enhance community providers’ ability to deliver timely and needed services, while ensuring consumer safety.   In order to accomplish such a charge, HB 19-1237 established the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee. The BHE-IAC is responsible to: Offer advice to CDPHE and the State Board of Health concerning the phased-in implementation of the BHE license, rules promulgated by the State Board pursuant to C.R.S. 25-27.6-101 et seq., and the implementation of the BHE licensing transition; Provide ongoing advice to CDPHE regarding Behavioral Health Entities and Behavioral Health Entity licensing; and Identify a coordinated and aligned process of sharing information across state departments to ensure behavioral health services are available to all residents of Colorado.  The BHE-IAC meetings will occur on a recurring basis, taking place on the second Thursday of every other month, with the remaining meetings scheduled to occur in July 2023, September 2023, and November 2023. Meetings are anticipated to be one to two hours in duration. If you are interested in serving as a committee member, please complete the application and supplemental documents located here:  Behavioral Health Entity Implementation & Advisory Committee Application For additional information about the Behavioral Health Entity license, please visit: CDPHE's BHE Website All applications are due no later than close of business Friday, August 25, 2023. Any questions may be directed to Jane Flournoy at either 303.910.6348 or jane.flournoy@state.co.us.  Thank you in advance for your interest!

Public Notice Stakeholder Meeting, July 13, 2023 Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee

 

To: All Stakeholders interested in the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee From: HFEMSD   When:  July 13, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.   Where: Online: Zoom meeting Audio line: 719-359-4580, Meeting ID: 706 298 107, Password: 385375  The Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee will meet in July to continue the discussion of the transition of the Behavioral Health Entity License from CDPHE to the newly-formed Behavioral Health Administration. Meeting documents, schedules, and archived agendas are available on the department website (click on the link below and then click on large font that says, “MEETING INFORMATION”):  https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/behavioral-health-entity-implementation-and-advisory-committee  A draft agenda will be available on this site no later than one week in advance. Sign up here if interested in receiving updates and public notice correspondence: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdROO_GY8Iwl0rJLuwchy7qu9fY09QZGrq_3dDXZquNSfyySQ/viewform If you have any questions or comments prior to the meeting, feel free to contact Jane Flournoy at Jane.Flournoy@state.co.us.  

Public Notice Stakeholder Meeting, May 11, 2023 Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee

 

To: All Stakeholders interested in the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee From: HFEMSD   When:  May 11, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.   Where:   Online: Zoom meeting Audio line: 719-359-4580, Meeting ID: 706 298 107, Password: 385375  The Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee will meet in May to continue the discussion of the transition of the Behavioral Health Entity License from CDPHE to the newly-formed Behavioral Health Administration. Meeting documents, schedules, and archived agendas are available on the department website (click on the link below and then click on the large font that says, “MEETING INFORMATION”):  https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/behavioral-health-entity-implementation-and-advisory-committee  A draft agenda will be available on this site no later than one week in advance. Sign up here if interested in receiving updates and public notice correspondence: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdROO_GY8Iwl0rJLuwchy7qu9fY09QZGrq_3dDXZquNSfyySQ/viewform If you have any questions or comments prior to the meeting, feel free to contact Francile Beights at francile.beights@state.co.us or Grace Sandeno at grace.sandeno@state.co.us 

Public Notice Stakeholder Meeting, March 9, 2023 Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee

 

To: All Stakeholders interested in the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee From: HFEMSD   When:  March 9, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.   Where:   Online: Zoom meeting Audio line: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 706 298 107, Passcode: 385375    The Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee will meet in September to continue discussion of the transition of the Behavioral Health Entity License from CDPHE to the newly-formed Behavioral Health Administration. Meeting documents, schedules and archived agendas are available on the department website (click on link below and then click on large font that says, “MEETING INFORMATION”):  https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/behavioral-health-entity-implementation-and-advisory-committee  A draft agenda will be available on this site no later than one week in advance. Sign up here if interested in receiving updates and public notice correspondence: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdROO_GY8Iwl0rJLuwchy7qu9fY09QZGrq_3dDXZquNSfyySQ/viewform If you have any questions or comments prior to the meeting, feel free to contact Francile Beights at francile.beights@state.co.us or Grace Sandeno at grace.sandeno@state.co.us 

Chapters 2 and 4, Emergency Rulemaking Adoption Notice, including stakeholders concerned with The House Bill 1294

 

To: All Stakeholders, HB 1294 Stakeholder Forum Attendees, Hospitals, Nursing Care Facilities, Assisted Living Residences and Group Homes. From: HFEMSD The Board of Health adopted emergency rules for 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 2 – General Licensure Standards, and 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 4 – General Hospitals. This adoption occurred on February 15th and the emergency rules are effective that same date. The emergency rules for 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 4 – General Hospitals affect hospitals and relate to the reporting of staffed bed capacity and the related definitions and procedures. The emergency rules for 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 2 – General Licensure Standards have two parts. The first part affects all licensed health facilities and brings into rule the requirement from Public Health Order 20-20 that facilities maintain an infectious disease, vaccine, and mitigation plan. The emergency rules for 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 2 – General Licensure Standards have two parts. The second part affects the following residential care facility types:  All facilities licensed under 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 7, e.g. Assisted Living Residences All facilities licensed under 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 5, e.g. Skilled Nursing Facilities  All facilities licensed under 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 8, e.g. Facilities for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Group Homes, and Intermediate Care Facilities This second part brings into rule the requirement from Public Health Order 20-20 that requires those facilities to appoint an infection control officer, and that appointee’s duties related to infection control and the mitigation of infectious diseases. Public Health Order 20-20 was issued in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and evolved over the following months and years with input from a wide range of stakeholders and health facilities working with the Department. The recommendations and requirements of those PHO 20-20 has shown to increase awareness and engagement with health facilities regarding infectious disease mitigation and control, as well as sharply reduce the morbidity in health facilities from the same. Stakeholder engagement for 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 2 permanent rulemaking is underway. This is occurring within the existing HB 1294 Stakeholder forum. More information about that group and its meetings can be found at this link: HB 1294 Stakeholder Forum Website. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 2nd, at 2:00 p.m. Stakeholder engagement for 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 4 permanent rulemaking is underway. Interested parties can sign up for meeting information at this link: HB 1401 Hospital Rulemaking Interested Parties Request. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 21st, at 12:30 p.m.

Updated Quality Management Planning Training is Now Live

 

To: All Licensed Providers   From: Noah Begley, Training Section Manager, HFEMSD   We are excited to share that we have updated and revised the Quality Management Planning training. It is live now on Train.org! You can access it by clicking the link above or by going to train.org and searching for the course ID 1108498 or by searching for the title.   This self-paced course is expected to take one hour and is geared toward new and seasoned personnel of all healthcare provider types responsible for carrying out quality management activities. You will be guided through an interactive review of a quality management program, reviewing the elements of a strong plan, and the documentation required to demonstrate program effectiveness. You will also be guided through a critical review of a sample quality management plan (QMP). The goal of this course is that you will have a better understanding of what constitutes a sound quality management plan with new tools at your disposal to review and improve upon your program.