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CMS offers strategies for mitigating behavioral health challenges during a pandemic

Hospital Safety Insider, December 29, 2020

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by A.J. Plunkett (aplunkett@decisionhealth.com)

Trying to get anyone to wear a mask can be difficult during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining infection control measures in a behavior health setting is even more challenging.

But you still have to. Given that reality, CMS has put together a 12-page list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) to help.

The Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSO) memo QSO-21-07-Psych Hospital, PRTF & ICF/IID, “COVID-19 Infection Control for Psychiatric and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID),” was sent to CMS regional offices and state agencies on December 17, 2020.

According to the memo, the FAQs “are intended to provide guidance in the following areas:

• Promising practices, measurement, and mitigation strategies for infection control during the PHE
• Use of isolation, cohorting and PPE
• Intervention, mitigation, and training strategies
• Transition and discharge during the PHE
• Engaging family, caregiver, support personnel, and community resources
• Available local, State and Federal resource guides and web links”

The FAQs are divided into several sections, such as “Addressing Refusal or Reluctance to COVID-19 Modifications” and “Challenging Behaviors, and Seclusion and Restraint.”

There are also several links to other resources.

The memo can be found here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-21-07-psych-hospital-prtf-icf-iid.pdf

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