PCHC Announces 2025 Fatal Five Training Series
Infection Control
ODP Shares PDF Guide for Infection Control and Vaccination Status Survey
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared a downloadable PDF of the questions within the Infection Control and Vaccination Status Survey that was sent out earlier this week. Since the online survey does not permit you to save and return, reviewing the questions ahead of time may make it easier to have all your necessary data when you complete the survey. If you have not already done so, please enter your responses online.
ICF Updates: Infection Control, Vaccination Survey, and Upcoming Task Force Meeting
Message from Kevin Dressler, Bureau Director, DHS, Office of Developmental Programs:
Infection Control and Vaccination Status Survey
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has put together a short survey (23 questions) to gain an idea of the vaccination status of the people living in ICFs for COVID, Flu, and RSV, as well as to identify difficulties you may have or are currently experiencing with obtaining the vaccines. There is also a section within the survey discussing infection control and prevention. Please take the time to fill out the survey, as ODP will use the information to continue to look for ways to improve access and availability of vaccines and other health-related resources.
Several responded that the survey was not accessible. Participant restrictions have been removed this morning, so you should now be able to complete the survey here.
ICF Task Force Meeting
The next ICF Task Force meeting will be conducted in-person on April 18, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. We are planning to hold the meeting at the PaTTAN (Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network) building in Harrisburg. We plan to share ICF citation data from January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2023, as well as two trainings. The trainings will be “Plan of Correction Writing and Follow-up,” and training on “Active Treatment.” We will also have the DOH Long Term Care – RISE group provide a presentation on the services and supports they have to offer to ICFs. Lastly, we will have our typical updates from our finance staff, DOH, and ODP Medical Director. Please plan on attending. Updates will be provided as we get closer to the date of the meeting.
ICF Taskforce Meeting: Location
The ICF Taskforce Meeting on Thursday, April 18, 2024, will be held at the following address:
PaTTAN – Central
6340 Flank Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Directions and nearby hotel accommodations can be found here.
ODP Announces Infection Control Procedures
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) shares ODPANN 23-046: Infection Control Procedures and Mitigating the Spread of Infectious Diseases with an NICC Team Consulting Flyer and Mission Statement. This announcement has two purposes:
- First, to draw attention to the revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) describing how to determine if a facility should be considered a healthcare or a non-healthcare congregate setting.
- The second purpose is to provide updated guidance to providers of the Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) home and community-based services (HCBS) and Private Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability (ICF/IDs) for development of policies related to infection control procedures.
Please review the announcement and attachments for further information and detail.
ICF/IDD Updated Info on CDC/CMS COVID-19 Infection Control
Last week during an ANCOR ICF/IDD Community of Practice call, Catherine Thibedeau shared a PowerPoint with updated information regarding COVID-19 Infection Control. She has graciously shared this information to the benefit of our ICF providers.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Catherine via email.
Opportunity Announced for Additional Support With Infection Prevention & Control for Personal Care Homes
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) recently released an announcement to personal care homes (PCH) regarding an opportunity to pursue additional support with infection prevention and control, COVID-19 response readiness, and other infectious disease preparedness at no cost.
DOH, in partnership with APIC Consulting Services, has developed a specially-tailored Infection Control and Response (ICAR) tool to assist a limited number of Personal Care Homes through an on-site assessment and consultation, development of improvement action plans, and numerous options for follow-up support.
Please see the announcement for details about pursuing this opportunity. Funding for the program is limited, and access to these services will be on a first come, first served basis. This program is not available to Assisted Living Residences or Personal Care Homes in Philadelphia County.
Questions can be sent electronically.