On March 12, 2020, The Colorado Department Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued emergency orders to prevent further spread of COVID-19. The order requires all Colorado licensed or certified skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities and assisted living residences to implement the following restrictions and requirements regarding visitors to these facilities:
Screening, limiting and restricting visitors
1. Follow the revised CMS guidelines on restricting visitorson restricting visitors, even though the facility (e.g., ALRs) may not be subject to CMS certification. Gordon & Rees has concurrently published a bulletin on these guidelines here.
2. Restrict visitation of non-essential individuals. Facilities should post signage with the essential individual visitor policy. Essential visitors include vendors providing necessary supplies or services and individuals necessary for a resident’s physical and mental health.
3. Before allowing entry, screen all essential individuals before they enter the facility. Facilities should limit the number of essential individuals who enter the building. Facilities are required to document all screenings with this CDPHE form. These forms must be retained indefinitely and must be provided to CDPHE when requested.
4. After entry, facilities should implement limits within the facility. This includes:
- Using personal protective equipment, including a gown, gloves, and a mask;
- Limiting movement to the resident’s room;
- Limiting surfaces touched;
- Limiting physical contact; and
- Limiting the number of visitors to only two essential visitors per resident at a time.
Gordon & Rees counsel have confirmed with State authorities that the Order does not give facilities discretion to require some, but not all, essential individuals entering the building to wear PPE. Even though resident interaction may be limited for certain visitors, the Order still requires PPE for all visitors entering the facility. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment has indicated that, when PPE is not available, facilities should contact their local/county health departments to determine if there is PPE available for distribution.
Gordon & Rees counsel also recommend requiring outside home health, hospice and or therapy contractors to supply their own PPE when entering the facility.
5. If there is a suspected, presumptive, or confirmed case of COVID-19 the facility must:
a. Contact and notify the county public health agency and CDPHE;
b. Identify and maintain a log of visitors and staff who interacted with the infected individual and their environment; and
c. Restrict visitation to and all group activities within the facility.
Provide alternative means of communication
Facilities must provide residents and family with alternate means of communication, phone calls, Facetime, email, etc., when restricting visitation. A staff member should be assigned as a primary contact for each resident. This person should be the contact point for incoming calls as well as provide regular updates via outbound calls. Facilities should set a phone line recording, updated daily, concerning the facility operation and visitation status.
Revise polices concerning third parties
Facilities should also review their interactions with third parties and revise related policies to ensure the best practices are in place to prevent transmission of COVID-19.
Gordon & Rees counsel are continually monitoring the rapidly evolving nature of State and Federal guidance. We are here to assist with the development of compliant policies, while understanding the continuing need to promote patient care and operational objectives during these difficult times.