At the time of writing this article, America is facing a pandemic as we have never seen before. COVID-19 has been responsible for 500,000 deaths in the United States alone. Many administrators and nursing leaders had never imagined infection control would be at the forefront of our daily planning. If you adhere to the following regulation provided by Massachusetts EOEA you will be sure to avoid potential issues with not just COVID-19, but many other communicable diseases:
Title: Stopping the spread
(12) Communicable Disease Control Plan. The Residence must implement a plan to prevent and limit the spread of communicable diseases. The plan shall conform to the currently accepted standards for principles of universal precautions based on DPH guidelines and shall include, but need not be limited to, the following components:
(a) A system to effectively identify and manage communicable diseases;
(b) Organized arrangements to provide the necessary supplies, equipment, and protective clothing, consistent with universal precautions under DPH guidelines; and
(c) A process for maintaining records of illnesses and associated incidents involving staff pursuant to 651 CMR 12.06(8)(a).