Weekly Summary: COVID-19 Healthcare Quality and Worker Safety Information - September 28, 2020

COVID-19 Healthcare Quality and Worker Safety Information

Opportunity to comment on COVID-19 hospital data collection - The Department of Health and Human Services posted a 60-day notice in the Federal Register seeking comment on the COVID-19 hospital data collection, which is done through HHS Teletracking COVID-19 Portal (U.S. Healthcare COVID-19 Portal). Those interested in commenting are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects:

1. The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency’s functions
2. The accuracy of the estimated burden
3. Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected
4. The use of the automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden

Comments are due by November 23, 2020 and can be made here.

Upgrade SAMS Access to Utilize New Point of Care Laboratory Reporting Pathway in NHSN — CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) will release a new Point of Care (POC) Laboratory Reporting Pathway within the NHSN LTC COVID-19 Module on October 15, 2020. The new Pathway will enable CMS-certified nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities, to meet the Department of Health and Human Services’ requirement to report SARS-CoV-2 point-of-care antigen test data, and other on-site COVID-19 laboratory testing data, to appropriate federal and state health authorities. Using the pathway will require an upgraded NHSN Secure Access Management Service (SAMS) from Level 1 to Level 3. Please be on the lookout for an email invitation from CDC to perform this upgrade.

This new NHSN Pathway will provide a single reporting system that nursing homes already use for other mandatory COVID reporting and will meet the requirement to report SARS-CoV-2 point-of-care antigen testing data to state health departments and other appropriate federal authorities.

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities can also email nhsn@cdc.gov with the subject line “Enhancing Data Security” to begin upgrading their SAMS access to use this Pathway.