Summary of the Bill
- Encouraging funding for Covid-19 status individuals’ grouping.
- Increased test kits and personnel if adopted.
- Training on emergency preparedness and infection control.
- Numerous programs to tame Covid-19, support bill.
- Cushioning of elderly and PWDs in society.
Impact of the Bill on Nursing Practice Standards; If Passed
- Enhanced strict following of all Covid-19 protocols
- Upholding ethical code of conduct, especially communication.
- Dedication of staff to serve most vulnerable.
- Stringent measures enhancing service delivery amongst facilities.
- Quality health, social and emotional support provision
- No staff, patients and families guidelines.
- No measures enacted to curb pandemic spread.
- Exposure of elderly and PWDs not addressed.
- Likely compromise of caregivers’ safety and health.
- No technological systems adopted in nursing practice.
Impact of the Bill on Individual Nursing Practice
- Favorable patient-nurse ratio; engaging additional nursing professions.
- Gained skills in new infection control protocols.
- Exhibiting caring skills while dealing with vulnerable.
- Frequent counseling and moral support to victims.
- Provision of appropriate PPEs and conducive environments.
Concerns about or Support for the Bill Based on Nursing Practice, Standards, or Patient Outcomes
- Bill looks into safety of all stakeholders.
- Provides for Covid-19 preventive and control measures.
- Lays foundation for handling any impending pandemic.
- Lauds nursing homes and their inherent workforces.
- Support bill; advocates assenting by congress committees.
Impact of the Bill on the Community
- Vulnerable persons in society will be protected.
- Enhanced correlation between community and nursing homes.
- Employment of the unemployed and nursing trainees.
- Supply of personal protective equipment to community.
- Improved communication channels between facilities and families.
Restrictive Measures to Strengthen the Fight against the Covid-19 Pandemic
- Restriction of physical visits to nursing homes.
- Limiting direct contact with the infected persons.
- Reduced exposure hours to the isolation sections.
- Restrictive inter-facility transfers and discharge of patients.
- Social-distancing for patients in assisted living facilities.
Nursing Homes as Fundamental Facilities in Handling and Containing Covid-19 Pandemic
- Caregivers – centered as critical factor in patient-care.
- Handles safety concerns in complex care facilities.
- Offer support and services to older adults.
- Facilitate living of disabled persons at homes.
- Creation of awareness amongst individuals in community.
Safeguarding the Vulnerable Persons in the Society from Infection by Pandemic
- Universal testing of all staff and residents.
- Providing paid sick leave for vulnerable staff.
- Protective safety gears supply to vulnerable residents.
- Health PPEs for all staff handling Covid-19.
- Separating elderly and PWDs persons in facilities.
Bolstered Protocols in Communication Channels in Nursing Home Facilities
- Families are continuously informed about victims’ care.
- Informing families on alternative facilities placement procedures.
- Timely communication on inter-facility transfer or discharge.
- Caregivers putting in place advance Medicare plans.
- Facilities providing video-enabled devices for family-patient communications.
Precautions to Caregivers to Observe Personal Safety and Health
- Calls for unconditional provision of adequate PPEs.
- Management protocols for individual well-being and safety.
- Lowering anxiety of caregivers during healthcare provision.
- Initiating programs to mitigate the associated stresses.
- Encouraging caregivers to join online support groups.
Mobilization and Engagement of Social Work Trainees
- Addresses the shortcoming of shortages in workforce.
- Entrusted to maintain social support to patients.
- Assigned to offer communication support amongst parties.
- Also facilitate the universal testing of residents.
- Enforce facility’s adherence to infection control procedures.
Conclusion
- Bill prioritizes everyone’s safety, well-being and health.
- Visitation restriction should not affect family-patients engagements.
- Accredits elderly are most vulnerable to Covid-19.
- Family, residents and staff connectivity is crucial.
State ombudsman to help streamline Covid-19 guidelines.
References:
GovTrack.us. (2020). H.R. 6972 — 116th Congress: Nursing Home COVID-19 Protection and Prevention Act of 2020. Web.
Questions for H.R. 6972: Nursing Home COVID-19 Protection and Prevention Act of 2020 – GovTrack.us. GovTrack.us. (2020). Web.