Revised Guidance on Staff Work Restrictions and Return to Work

HHSC has issued revised guidance for long-term care providers experiencing staffing shortages due to COVID-19. The requirement to contact LTCR before implementing CDC guidance on staff work restrictions and return-to-work has been removed.

“Guidance and Protocol for Long-Term Care Facilities Experiencing Staffing Shortages due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

This checklist provides guidance for long-term care facilities and residential providers facing staffing shortages related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

This checklist incorporates CDC guidance with state and federal staffing requirements.

Facilities facing staffing shortages must use this checklist before requesting emergency staffing resources. The CDC’s mitigation strategies are meant to be implemented sequentially (i.e., contingency strategies before crisis strategies). The conventional strategies must be followed when the facility has adequate staffing.

As a reminder, facilities are required to cohort residents based on their COVID-19 status: COVID-19 negative (COVID-negative), COVID-19 positive (COVID-positive), and unknown COVID-19 status (COVID-unknown).1 Healthcare personnel (HCP) are considered “boosted” if they have received all COVID-19 vaccine doses, including a booster dose, as recommended by CDC.”

For more….  Read the updated guidance.