"Led by a rotating panel of experts, ECHO Idaho helps participants learn best practices for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Idaho. Connect with colleagues from around the state to ask questions and learn best practices from experts in the field. ECHO Idaho’s COVID-19 series will create a dialogue among clinicians about treating this infectious disease and help identify helpful resources statewide."

CMS has released a COViD Toolkit. This compendium is not intended as guidance from CMS. It does not replace or serve as a substitute for CMS requirements and policy. The actions outlined in this document have not been evaluated for effectiveness by CMS or any government agency. This compendium is solely an informational product offered by CMS to nursing homes as well as state and local officials during the National Public Health Emergency.

CDC has launched a new mini webinar training series for frontline long-term care and nursing home staff. This series of 5 short webinars reviews basic infection prevention steps including: proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and facemasks, how and when to perform hand hygiene, how and when to clean surfaces, and the need to check residents and staff daily for symptoms of COVID-19. Learn more about your role in protecting residents and keeping COVID-19 out of your facility. 

From OCR, this alert:It has come to OCR’s attention that an individual posing as an OCR Investigator has contacted HIPAA covered entities in an attempt to obtain protected health information (PHI).  The individual identifies themselves on the telephone as an OCR investigator, but does not provide an OCR complaint transaction number or any other verifiable information relating to an OCR investigation.

HIPAA covered entities and business associates should alert their workforce members, and can take action to verify that someone is an OCR investigator by asking for the investigator’s email address, which will end in @hhs.gov, and asking for a confirming email from the OCR investigator’s hhs.gov email address.  If organizations have additional questions or concerns, please send an email to: OCRMail@hhs.gov.

Suspected incidents of individuals posing as federal law enforcement should be reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  The FBI issued a public service announcement about COVID-19 fraud schemes at:

https://www.ic3.gov/media/2020/200320.aspx.

APIC is making available free resources relating to coronavirus/COVID-19 and Long Term Care facilities.

Lists of CDC recommendations for environmental sanitation products.