To: Long Term Care Facility Administrators From: Holly Medved, CDPHE Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (OEPR) Plans Section The CDPHE Heat Response plan was developed in 2023 with a focus on Long Term Care Facilities (LTCF) preparedness for extreme heat events. The review cycle for this plan is annually with triannual revisions. It has been 3 years since the initiation of the plan and therefore, it is currently in the revision phase. The initial plan included data that demonstrated the total number of facilities with backup power availability as well as cooling options for patients in the event of a heat related incident. As part of the current plan revision the facility assessment will again be completed. The assessment for this revision cycle has additional questions which include: generator fuel type, type of cooling system, and if the cooling system is connected to generator power. OEPR kindly asks that each LTCF complete the attached survey no later than April 7, 2026.  It is important to note that information gathered in this survey will go directly to the OEPR Planning team and will not be used for regulatory purposes.  LTCF Heat Survey For further information please contact the CDPHE OEPR Planning team at cdphe_oepr_planningsection@state.co.us.

Your input needed: Update List of Supplemental Healthcare Staffing Agencies

 

To: Facility Administrators From: CDPHE, HCPF, and CDLE It’s time to update the list of Supplemental Healthcare Staffing Agencies that healthcare facilities are using in Colorado.  Colorado Revised Statute (C.R.S.) § 8-4-125 requires staffing agencies providing services in Colorado to healthcare facilities that are licensed by the Department of Public Health and Environment pursuant to C.R.S. § 25-1.5-103(1)(a) to submit semi-annual reports to the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (DLSS). DLSS shares the data submitted with the Colorado Departments of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). To identify which SHSAs need to report, CDPHE and HCPF gather information about the staffing agencies they utilize from healthcare facilities. If you are licensed under C.R.S. § 25-1.5-103(1)(a), please complete this Healthcare Provider Questionnaire on or before March 28, 2025.   For further information contact the DLSS Reporting and Accountability Programs by email at acdle_health_staffing@state.co.us or phone (720) 235-8291.

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.

Summary of Findings for all reportable occurrences, effective 2/1/25

 

To: Facility Administrators/Managers From: HFEMSD, HFEQ, Occurrences Program  Dear Providers,  The Department has updated the format of its Summary of Findings for all reportable occurrences, effective 2/1/25. You may notice that the information included in these summaries has been abbreviated, however will still contain the necessary statutory and regulatory requirements for public posting. For your purposes, the occurrence reporting requirements and reporting process remain the same.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.  If you have any questions, please contact our Occurrence Line at 303-692-2900.

CLOSING EVENTS IN EMResource For Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Residences and ICFs/Group Homes

 

To: Administrators and Managers of Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Residents and Group Homes/ICFs From: Greg Schlosser, Branch Chief, Health Facility Education and Quality Hello EMResource Users, We are writing to inform you that we will be ending the 3 ongoing events-Assisted Living Residences (ALR) Update & Group(GH) & Intermediate Care(ICF’s) Update in EMResource on 8/5/24. This decision was made after a careful review of the current reporting requirements of these facilities to the State. However, we still intend to keep this partnership ongoing & would like you all to keep your facilities information updated in EMResource. EMResource has proved to be an excellent emergency resource query tool during uncalled situations & users have benefitted from the updated facility information in the EMResource database. To continue updating your facility in EMResource please follow the below steps: The 3 LTCF/Assisted Living/Group Homes events are closing but users can continue to update statuses for their facilities in EMResource. In EMResource go to Menu → View → then select your authorized facility in either of the 3 sections- Long Term Care Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, ICF/Group Homes.  The facility you are authorized to update status for will have a key icon in front of it. Then can click on this key icon to update statuses for their facilities. COVID provider information & the contact information for your facility are important to be kept updated at all times We value & appreciate your continued  partnership with us.If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Melanie.Roth-Lawson@state.co.us (720-291-5929) or cdphe_EMResource@state.co.us. .

HEALTH ADVISORY ALERT: PREPARING FOR EXTREME HEAT THIS WEEKEND

 

To: Administrators and Managers of Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Residents and Group Homes/ICFs From: Peter Myers, Deputy Division Director, Health Facilities and Emergency Management Services Division Please review this newly released CDPHE health advisory alert on preparing for extreme heat this weekend. Please share this WIDELY with your staff. If you have any questions, please contact Melanie.Roth-Lawson@state.co.us or call 720-291-5929. .

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. .

LTC Newsletter - November 2023

 

To: LTC From: CDPHE Infection Prevention Team     Here is the November 2023 LTC newsletter:        https://conta.cc/3QrlrJo     If you have any questions about the content, contact the CDPHE IP Program: cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us

LTC COVID testing supplies

 

To: All residential care facilities From: CDPHE Infection Prevention Program COVID-19 cases are increasing. Many facilities are asking about testing supplies and vaccinations.  As a reminder, CDPHE sent out a final distribution of COVID-19 point of care testing supplies in April 2023. The supplies sent should meet the testing needs for resident and staff testing for approximately one calendar year. If your facility does not have testing supplies on hand, they may have been placed in a storage closet for safekeeping. If you cannot locate them after a careful review of your facility storage areas, email cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us and we can provide you with information about the original shipment or direct your facility to where you may purchase additional testing supplies. The information sent to facilities March 2023 has been included in this communication, it contains valuable information which should be reviewed as soon as possible. Antigen Testing Distribution.pdf For additional assistance, contact: cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@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. 

Residential and Long-Term Care Facility Newsletter for 9/5/23

 

To: Residential care facilities (Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Group Homes, and Intermediate Care Facilities)   From: CDPHE COVID-19 Infection Prevention Program   Our latest Residential and Long-term Care Newsletter is now available.

Changes to Renewal Application in COHFI

 

To: All Licensed Health Facilities/Agencies and COHFI users who submit license applications   From: HFEMSD   Background: When the COHFI system launched in February 2020, CDPHE left renewal applications open and editable by COHFI license users. This was necessary to get all facility information entered into the COHFI system. Once all facilities were able to complete one renewal cycle in COHFI, HFEMSD’s intent was to lock down the sections of the renewal applications for which changes require a separate approval process. While this plan was significantly delayed, but we are now prepared to implement these changes.   Need to Know: During the COHFI maintenance window on Wednesday, August 30th, the following fields will no longer be editable on a renewal application. This change will be implemented system wide for all renewal applications Licensees must follow the established process to submit an Update Application when this information changes.   The following sections will no longer be editable on a Renewal Application:   General and Demographics Facility/Agency Name Facility/Agency Physical Address Administrator Information Director of Nursing Information Demographics Information (for some facility/agency types) Additional Locations Buildings Off-Campus Locations Branches Workstations BHE Service Locations Ownership Ownership General            -Ownership Type            -Name of Business Entity            -EIN            -Start Date of Ownership  Board of Directors  Officers Business Ownership Summary (Shareholders/Stakeholders) Management Company Management Company General             -Ownership Type             -Name of Business Entity             -EIN             -Start Date of Ownership Officers Board of Directors Management Owner Summary     For questions, or if you experience bugs or issues with this change, please contact cdphe.healthfacilities@state.co.us with your facility name, facility ID, and a description of your issues.

Nursing Facility/ICF Infection Prevention call 8/16/2023

 

To: Nursing Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities   From: CDPHE Infection Prevention Program   Click here to access slides from the August 16, 2023 Nursing Facilities/ICFs call.      If you have any questions about the content, contact the CDPHE IP Program at cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us

Listeria associated with soft serve ice cream in long-term care facilities

 

To: Residential care facilities (Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Group Homes, and Intermediate Care Facilities) From: CDPHE COVID-19 Infection Prevention Program CDC is investigating a Listeria outbreak linked to kosher soft serve ice cream and advises long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other institutions to not serve any flavors of “Soft Serve On The Go” ice cream cups. One person who was ill in this outbreak was served this ice cream cup while residing in a long-term care facility. Listeria was found in a “Soft Serve On The Go” ice cream cup collected from another ill person’s freezer, and laboratory scientists are working to determine if it is the outbreak strain of Listeria. On August 9, Real Kosher Ice Cream recalled all flavors of their “Soft Serve On The Go” ice cream cups. Recalled ice cream cups were distributed to multiple long-term care facilities nationwide. Additional information specific to Colorado:  Listeria (from a normally sterile site) is a reportable condition (within four (4) days). Only test people who ate the recalled ice cream and have symptoms. Stool culture for Listeria is not recommended.  Email questions about Listeria to cdphe_food_enteric_water_diseases@state.co.us.

ALRs/Group Homes Infection Prevention call slides 8/2/2023

 

To: Assisted Living Residences and Group Homes   From CDPHE Infection Prevention Program   Click here to access slides from the August 2, 2023 ALRs/Group Homes call.      If you have any questions about the content, contact the CDPHE IP Program at cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us

LTC Newsletter week ending 7/28/23

 

To: Residential and Long-Term Care Facilities From: CDPHE Infection Prevention Program Here is the most recent LTC newsletter for the week ending 7/28/2023.      If you have any questions about the content, contact the CDPHE IP Program: cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us

Nursing Facility/ICF Infection Prevention call 7/19/2023

 

To: Nursing Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities   From CDPHE Infection Prevention Program   Click here to access slides from the July 19, 2023 Nursing Facilities/ICFs call.      If you have any questions about the content, contact the CDPHE IP Program  cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us