NHSN Office Hours - Feb. 18, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

To: Acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, critical access hospitals, outpatient hemodialysis centers, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, pediatric hospitals From: The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) The CDPHE HAI AR program provides quarterly National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) office hours. These are held in conjunction with the NHSN Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Module (AUR) office hours. These are a great way to connect with the HAI/AR program at CDPHE, and get your questions answered regarding antimicrobial stewardship, HAIs, or NHSN reporting.  The next NHSN office hours will be held on February 18, 2026, from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m Mountain Time via Zoom. You can register here. We will discuss updates to the HAI Annual Report and NHSN AUR module. There will also be a Q&A section, so bring any questions you might have. Office hours Zoom registration:  https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqde6trzosHNIP_z82D2fBf9EAAdRmp4gE For further information, please contact the CDPHE HAI AR program, cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us.

XCEL Energy Announces Public Safety Power-Shutoff on Friday, Jan. 16 for Larimer and Weld Counties

To: Administrators, Directors and Staff From: Melanie Roth, Emergency Response Coordinator, Health Facilities & Emergency Medical Services Division Re: XCEL Energy Announces Public Safety Power-Shutoff (PSPS) on Friday, Jan. 16 for Parts of Larimer County, and parts of Weld County Due to extreme wildfire risk and a Fire Weather Watch issued by the National Weather Service, Xcel Energy has issued notice of a power shutoff (Public Safety Power Shutoff or PSPS) on Friday, January 16, 2026, in parts of Larimer and Weld counties, from approximately 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Unplanned outages may also occur due to damage from extreme winds.  Xcel crews will be staged at the Fort Collins service center on Friday to patrol and restore lines as quickly as possible, once it is safe to do so. For damaged lines, it may take up to several days for power to be restored from planned or unplanned outages.  Please check the up-to-date Xcel Electric Outage Map to see if your address is impacted (Even if you are not in a PSPS zone, high winds can cause other outages). You can monitor the event on the Public Safety Power Shutoff Event Update.  Placing an emphasis on delivering care even in the face of power outages must be a priority to protect residents, clients, patients and staff from harm. Preparation for residential providers Have emergency plans and arrangements in place if you cannot provide generator power and need to evacuate medically compromised residents. Other suggestions: Consider your DME supply and potential needs. Consult your facility’s emergency plan. Notify engineering and facility staff as early as possible of additional power needs. Review evacuation plans and prepare staff in case of power outages, and make sure your transportation is in good working order. Monitor indoor temperatures. Increase the frequency of patient observations, especially those at high risk.  If you lose heat and are in a high-rise building, prepare to move individuals from lower floors to higher floors (remember, heat rises). Conserve supplies, such as ice and fuel, based on anticipated or current shortages. Keep medications cool. Place medications that require refrigeration in an ice chest or cooler packed with ice, cooling bricks, or cold packs. Use a thermometer to monitor medication temperatures to ensure they're safe to use. Avoid freezing medication by making sure it does not directly touch the ice. Plan and consider options and plans for access to food and meals during the power outage. Preparation for home health/home care agencies and in-home hospice providers with clients at home:  Agencies are responsible for having individualized emergency plans for their clients, based on their individual needs. Encourage your clients who have durable medical equipment to have extra batteries and/or a car charger available. Keeping extra concentrator batteries fully charged will give your clients oxygen for longer if you lose power. If possible, keep enough fully-charged batteries to last a couple of days. Arrange with clients’ oxygen suppliers for back-up emergency supply that does not require electricity, such as oxygen tanks and cylinders. Make sure your clients know how to set up and use their back up emergency oxygen supply. If you have clients that rely on several different types of electrical assistive devices, he/she/they may want to look into purchasing a generator. Temporary use generators can be purchased at most hardware and department stores (such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sears, and similar stores). Here are resources that can help home health providers prepare their clients during emergencies: How to Survive an Extended Power Outage with Home Medical Equipment Home Use Devices: How to Prepare for and Handle Power Outages for Medical Devices that Require Electricity Emergency Power Planning for People Who Use Electricity and Battery-Dependent Assistive Technology and Medical Devices Preparation for response operations Since all emergencies start locally, we want you to know that local public health agencies and regional healthcare coalitions have been notified about the power outages. Make sure that you all have the appropriate local contact information, should you need to reach out for emergency assistance: Locations in Larimer County for sheltering or power supply, currently referred to as “comfort centers” are available through your local emergency management contact.  Find your local emergency management contact information (and sign up for emergency alerts on this site) Find your regional health care coalition Find your local public health agency  For assistance with movement, placement or care of patients or residents, complete this Health Care Facility/Agency Status Check-In Form detailing any assistance you need. This form will be routed to the appropriate response partners. You may also email cdphe_oepr_medops@state.co.us.

HAI Annual Report feedback survey

To: Acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, critical access hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, pediatric hospitals, outpatient hemodialysis facilities  From: The Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Please take a moment to complete this brief survey, which will help us gather feedback on how to improve the HAI Annual Report and HAI Dashboard.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1lbrzZkPCuk1WE4TQ5ODbwAtRdmqZZ6YSk7o46YugEPxBog/viewform?usp=publish-editor Every year, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program publishes the HAI Annual Report, which contains HAI data from facilities across the state. In 2025, we launched an HAI Dashboard alongside the annual report to give consumers an interactive data display. We are now evaluating how healthcare facilities utilize the HAI Annual Report and HAI Dashboard to identify opportunities for making them more widely available and effective. We ask that one or more administrators, infection preventionists, patient care providers, quality improvement professionals, or people in other relevant roles complete this brief 5-10 minute survey. The first part of the survey asks questions about the written HAI Annual Report. The second part of the survey asks questions about the HAI Dashboard.

Memorandum - HCAC Membership Agenda and Minutes

To: Home Care Advisory Committee Members and the Public From: Erica McClurg, Home Care Section Manager Hello HCAC Members and the Public, Upcoming quarterly meeting date: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. Register to join the meeting   Approval of minutes from the previous meeting Please review the minutes from the last quarterly meeting held on 10/16/25, sent via email to members before the meeting. Members will be asked to pass a motion on whether the minutes stand as written or if the information is inaccurate and needs to be corrected at the next meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Note: Official meeting minutes are available from the department upon request. Attendees may use artificial intelligence (AI) note-taking tools; however, notes taken in this manner do not constitute the official record of the meeting. Access the Official Meeting Minutes Agenda 1:45 p.m. – Discussion Items Facilitator: CDPHE – Erica Home Care Advisory Committee (HCAC) Meeting Date: January 15, 2026 Format: Brief meeting (no additional topics submitted) Agenda Items Scope of Practice Concerns IHSS RN Oversight Pre-Service Compliance Gaps Coordination of Care Committee Vote Annual Training Reminder Upcoming Meetings

CDC - Advancing Hemovigilance to Identify Transfusion-Transmitted Infections

To: Facility Administrators and Infection Preventionists From: The Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program, Communicable Disease Branch, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment The CDPHE Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program encourages healthcare facilities to enroll in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) hemovigilance module in 2026. The module is designed to track infrequent (a handful of events in the U.S. every 1-2 years) but serious transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) nationwide and facilitate a rapid public health response. All U.S. healthcare facilities where blood components and manufactured blood products are transfused are eligible to report.  CDC is updating the hemovigilance module of the Biovigilance Component of NHSN in early 2026 to quickly and systematically identify emerging pathogens that can be transmitted through blood transfusions. The new module (version 3.0) is substantially streamlined relative to the current version. Participating healthcare facilities will have their laboratory system flag pathogens of interest.* The flag will trigger the hospital epidemiologist or infection preventionist to review the patient’s transfusion history in the prior 30 days and send an alert to CDC via NHSN if positive. CDC will work with the CDPHE HAI/AR Program to investigate TTIs in Colorado.  Eligible healthcare facilities can enroll in the new hemovigilance module and complete the Annual Facility Survey in January 2026. Reporting can begin at the end of March 2026 (estimated March 19). In the meantime, CDC will announce and host dedicated office hours for enrolled facilities.  TTIs can be severe and geographically widespread, but they are under-identified. Enrolling in the NHSN hemovigilance module 3.0 will help keep patients and the public safe. Enrollment is voluntary. To enroll your healthcare facility, go to www.cdc.gov/nhsn. We anticipate updated guidance to be posted in January. For questions about the use of NHSN or the public health response to TTIs in Colorado, email the HAI/AR Program at cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us. *Pathogens of interest include:  Viruses: Cache Valley virus, Colorado tick fever virus, Dengue virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, Hepatitis A virus, Hepatitis E virus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, Oropouche virus, Powassan virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever virus, Zika virus.  Bacteria: Acinetobacter baumannii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever), Ehrlichia spp., Leclercia adecarboxylata, Rickettsia rickettsii.  Parasites: Babesia spp., Leishmania spp., Plasmodium spp. (Malaria).

Jan. 15, 2026 - House Bill 1294 Stakeholder Forum - Branch Updates

To: All Stakeholders  From: HFEMSD  You are invited to participate in the House Bill 1294 Stakeholder Forum. The House Bill 1294 Stakeholder Forum is an opportunity to promote dialogue and transparency for issues of interest and concern to all licensed healthcare facilities. Pursuant to C.R.S 25-3-113, the Stakeholder Forum consists of representatives from various types of provider facilities licensed by the department along with consumers, consumer advocates, ombudsmen and other interested parties which meet at least four times each year for the Department to discuss and take into consideration the concerns and issues of interest to the forum members and other attendees regarding the development and implementation of rules and other matters that affect all licensed health care facilities. At this meeting, the department will present: Branch updates Licensing fee updates for 2026 - Peter Myers   The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Meetings will be held quarterly, generally on the third Thursday of the month. To participate, use the resource links below. HB 1294 Stakeholder Forum Website - meeting information/invite and communication sign-up Agenda item request form Reminder: Official meeting minutes are available from the department upon request. Attendees may use artificial intelligence (AI) note-taking tools; however, notes taken in this manner do not constitute the official record of the meeting. If you have any further questions or comments before the meeting, please contact Rachel Bader at rachel.bader@state.co.us.

Save the Date: Stakeholder Process Announcement for General Updates to 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 15 - Dialysis Treatment Clinics

To: Dialysis treatment clinics and all parties interested in the stakeholder process to update 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 15 From: HFEMSD  The Department is excited to announce that it will be convening a stakeholder process to review, reorganize, and update 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 15 - Dialysis Treatment Clinics. The Department reviews its rules every five to seven years in accordance with Section 24-4-103.3, C.R.S. to assess their appropriateness and ensure they remain up-to-date with recent statutory and regulatory changes and developments in healthcare settings. During its last review, the Department identified several changes necessary to better reflect current practice, standards, and language in the dialysis setting. Public meetings are currently planned for the second Wednesday of the month from February 2026 through June 2026 for a total of five meetings. All interested parties are invited to attend meetings either in person at the Department or online via Zoom.  The first stakeholder meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2025, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  In-person meeting location: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80234 Building A, Room Carson Remote meeting information: Join Zoom meeting Meeting ID: 849 5996 8348 Passcode: 997178 Join by phone: (719) 359-4580 Find your local number If you are interested in participating in the stakeholder process to update Chapter 15, please sign up to receive notice of each meeting, Zoom links, and other important meeting information. Please feel free to share this link with other interested parties.  Stakeholder engagement is integral to the Department’s effort to align Chapter 15 with dialysis care and requirements in Colorado and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of patients. All interested parties are encouraged to attend and participate in the stakeholder meetings. Notice of each meeting will be emailed directly to interested parties and sent via the Division’s portal messaging system roughly one to two weeks before each meeting. Meeting details, including agendas and proposed rule language, will be available before each meeting in the public Google folder dedicated to this rulemaking.  Meetings are currently planned for: February 11, 2026 March 11, 2026 April 8, 2026 May 13, 2026 June 10, 2026 If you have any questions or comments prior to the first meeting, please contact Nicola Koepnick at nicola.koepnick@state.co.us or Alexandra Haas at alexandra.haas@state.co.us.

January 7, 2026 Nursing Home Licensing General Rule Updates Stakeholder Meeting

To: Nursing Home providers and all parties interested in the stakeholder process to update 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 5 - Nursing Care Facilities From: HFEMSD  You are invited to participate in the stakeholder process to review, reorganize, and update 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 5 - Nursing Care Facilities. Stakeholder engagement is crucial for the Department’s effort to align Chapter 5 with nursing home care and service delivery in Colorado, and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of nursing home residents.  All interested parties are encouraged to attend and participate in the stakeholder meetings. All meetings will be open to the public and hosted in a hybrid format with in-person and online attendance options.  The next stakeholder meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2025, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  In-person meeting location: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80234 Building B, Room B1F Remote meeting information: Join Zoom meeting Meeting ID: 841 1533 5863 Passcode: 296312 Find your local number For detailed information about the stakeholder process, including a tentative schedule of topics for each meeting, please refer to the stakeholder information letter. Meeting details, including agendas and proposed rule language, will be available in the public Google folder dedicated to this rulemaking in advance of each monthly stakeholder meeting.  We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all people to engage fully. Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities and language services for individuals whose first language is not English may be provided upon request. Please notify the Nondiscrimination Coordinator at cdphe_nondiscrimination@state.co.us or 303-692-2102 at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.   Please be aware that the meeting will be recorded. Attendees may use artificial intelligence (AI) note-taking tools; however, notes taken in this manner do not constitute the official record of the meeting. Official meeting records are available from the department upon request.  If you are interested in participating in the stakeholder process to update Chapter 5, please sign up to receive notice of each meeting and other important information emailed directly to you. Please feel free to share this link with other interested parties. Notice of each meeting will be sent via email and via the Division’s portal messaging system roughly one to two weeks before each meeting.  Future meetings are currently planned for: January 7, 2026 February 4, 2026 March 4, 2026 April 1, 2026 May 6, 2025 June 3, 2026 July 1, 2026  August 5, 2026 (if needed) If you have any questions or comments prior to the meeting, please contact Francile Beights at francile.beights@state.co.us or Grace Sandeno at grace.sandeno@state.co.us.

OASIS Broadcast January 2026

To: Home Health Agencies, Administrators, and OASIS Coordinators From: The Health Facilities Education and Quality (HFEQ) Branch of the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division (HFEMSD) Subject: Monthly OASIS Broadcast January 2026 Attachment: OASIS Broadcast January 2026 The OASIS Broadcast will contain information on sections such as Home Page In the News Stay Updated  HH PPS Resources Contact me Questions? Contact wendy.castro@state.co.us or cdphe_oasis_colorado@state.co.us

MDS Broadcast January 2026

To: MDS Coordinators, Directors of Nursing, Billing and Coding Personnel, Licensed Nursing Facilities Administrators From: The Health Facilities Education and Quality (HFEQ) Branch of the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division (HFEMSD) Subject: MDS Broadcast January 2026 Attachment: MDS Broadcast January 2026 The MDS Broadcast will contain information on sections such as: Home page Stay Updated Training and Education PBJ Tools and Resources Contact Me Questions? Contact wendy.castro@state.co.us or cdphe_mds_colorado@state.co.us

Health Care Facility Status Check-in - Severe Weather

To: Administrators, Directors and Staff From: Melanie Roth, Emergency Response Coordinator, Health Facilities & Emergency Medical Services Division Re: Health Care Facility Status Check-in - Severe Weather Dec. 2025   As the State Emergency Operations Center continues to monitor the statewide severe weather, we are preparing for potential weekend coordination needs.   You’re receiving this email because you’re in a high-risk area that may be impacted by high wind, fire risk, planned and unplanned power outages continuing over the weekend.   As we plan for potential medical system needs in the coming days, please complete this brief poll. We understand that your facility’s status may change.   In addition, make sure that you all have the appropriate local contact information:   Find your local emergency management contact information (and sign up for emergency alerts on this site) Find your regional health care coalition Find your local public health agency

Provider Training: Conducting Resident Interviews, Section Z, and CAAs

To: MDS Coordinators, Directors of Nursing, Billing and Coding Personnel, Licensed Nursing Facilities Administrators  From: Staff Orientation and Provider Support Program (SOPS) of the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division (HFEMSD) Provider Training: Conducting Resident Interviews, Section Z, and CAAs This training will guide how to appropriately conduct resident interviews in order to accurately code the MDS, review the completion dates and signatures in Section Z and CAAs, and gain a better understanding of validation surveys. The training will be offered both in-person and virtually. Please email Wendy Castro if you plan on attending. This information is needed for room capacity (in-person) and to provide you with the Google link (virtual). Please add the meeting information below to your calendar. When: January 22, 2026 Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Lemay Avenue Health & Rehab Facility, 4824 S Lemay Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525 Hosted By: Cottonwood Healthcare Join by phone Dial: (530) 481-6042‬ PIN: ‪630 918 834‬# Questions? Contact wendy.castro@state.co.us or cdphe_mds_colorado@state.co.us

IMPORTANT UPDATE RE XCEL Energy Potential Public Safety Power-Shutoff on Wednesday, 12/17 @ 10 AM for Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties

To: Administrators, Directors and Staff From: Melanie Roth, Emergency Response Coordinator, Health Facilities & Emergency Medical Services Division Re: Updates to XCEL Energy POTENTIAL Public Safety Power-Shutoffs on Wednesday, December 17 Now @ 10 AM for Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties The potential Xcel Energy Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) has been pushed forward to begin at 10:00 AM today, December 17th, and the scope of the expected planned shutoff has been reduced significantly. Potentially impacted counties have been narrowed to include Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld. This shutoff is being considered due to hazard risks, including wildfires, associated with forecasted high winds, high temperatures, and low humidity. A final decision regarding the power shut-off will be made early Wednesday (12/17) morning.   Xcel maintains a list of critical facilities, to find out if you are on this list or to get added, reach out to your local emergency management contact (see below). You can also find up-to-date Electrical Power Outage information on the Xcel Electric Outage Map.   Make sure that you all have the appropriate local contact information:  Find your local emergency management contact information (and sign up for emergency alerts on this site) Find your regional health care coalition Find your local public health agency   PLEASE NOTE:  Getting your facility’s name added to the list of critical facilities to be considered for a priority de/re-energization only helps facilities to get power re-secured. It does NOT mean that your power will be kept on/no power outage.  Xcel customers will begin receiving notices directly from Xcel on Tuesday evening if your area is no longer being considered. Xcel is still expecting and planning for unplanned outages in all Front Range counties because of the high winds. More wind, though not expected to be as significant, again on Thursday and Friday. Prior to requesting assistance, ensure your facility/agency has already: Implemented your emergency operations plan Attempted to provide care management during the potential outage Detailed attempts made to temporarily or permanently place the patient/resident/client so that efforts are not duplicated and show that state support coordination thresholds have been met. Should you need assistance after exercising all available resources, please complete this Situational Awareness form detailing patient placement, transport, care assistance needed. This form will be routed to the appropriate response partners.