How to Choose Lifting Slings

First, identify how many patient lift slings slings your healthcare setting needs. While there isn’t one right answer to this question and the quantity will depend greatly on the patient population in a building, below is a general starting point. These per-lift recommendations will change based on the acuity level of patients and body type.

Sit-To-Stand Lifts:

Sit-to-stand lifts help patients who have some mobility, but need assistance rising from a sitting position. Sit-to-stand lifts allow caregivers to comfortably and safely assist mobility patients with sitting and standing. Below are a few sit to stand lift sling considerations:

Standing Slings: 2 medium and 1 large

Standing slings are ideal for patients who can bear half or more of their own weight and have sufficient head and neck control. These types of sit-to-stand lift slings can take patients from a seated to standing position.

Transport Slings: 1 medium and 1 large

Transport slings provide back support up to a patient’s shoulder area and underneath their thighs. Transport sit-to-stand lift slings can be used for seated transports, such as bed to chair or in room transport.

What Are Specialty Patient Slings?

Keep in mind that you may have patients who, based on weight, shape or specific health needs, require other sizes or sling types (hygiene, walking, gait training, repositioning, etc.)

A few examples of patient-specific slings include:

• Bariatric Sling
• Repositioning Sling
• Harness

What materials are slings made from?

Patient lift slings can also be customized to meet specific needs through their sling material. Common lifting lift material includes:

• Poly. Poly slings are the standard lift sling material and are strong and durable.
• Mesh. Mesh slings are commonly used for bathing, as they dry and let go of water easily.
• Padded. Padded Sit-to-Stand sling material offers added comfort for patients.

Lifting Slings Chart: Multi-Brand Compatible Slings

Direct Supply offers a variety of sling and lift solutions for your healthcare setting. Discover our multi-brand compatible sling selection and learn more about this versatile offering in this Multi Brand Sling Vlog.

Direct Supply’s multi-brand slings have passed compatibility testing and are appropriate to use with leading brands of lift equipment. The lifting slings compatibility charts below contain our Direct Supply multi brand compatible sling models, material and size options:

Floor Lift Slings Chart:

Sit-to-Stand Lift Slings Chart:

Shop the full collection of Direct Supply’s multi-brand slings to standardize and save on slings in your healthcare setting.

A best practice is to assess the needs of each individual patient to determine the lift and sling mix you should purchase. Some benefits of purchasing patient-specific slings include:

How Do I Determine What Sling My Resident Needs?

While fit and comfort are important assessment factors when choosing the correct sling, there are other essential considerations to take into account. The determination of the correct sling model and size must be done by a licensed clinician. That designated licensed clinician should:

1. Assess the resident and determine that the resident actually requires a lift/assist device
2. Determine the correct lift/assist device and sling based on the resident assessment and the manufacturer’s instructions. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations to determine the appropriate sling based on the desired function.
3. Document the specific recommended lift/assist device (make, model and weight capacity) and sling (make, model and size – including any specific attachment instructions). Remember, slings can be made of mesh, breathable fabric, nylon, quilted, padded and may have parts that can be plastic or metal. Be specific.

How Do I Ensure Proper Usage?

Having the proper equipment is an excellent start, but making sure your staff and residents know how to use them is absolutely essential. Be sure to follow any and all manufacturer instructions and safety compliance instructions. Additionally, consider these tips:

Step 1: Cleaning Surfaces

Clean all vertical and horizontal surfaces to remove soil, dirt and dust. Getting rid of dirt is an essential component of a robust infection prevention program, as dirt is rich in nutrients that feed bacteria and other pathogens.

Additionally, it’s important to remove visible dirt prior to disinfection, as it can affect the efficacy of the disinfectant being used. Microfiber dusters, cloths and flat mops are great at picking up not only dirt but also unwanted pathogens to enhance cleaning.

• When cleaning horizontal surfaces, operate in either a left-to-right or a right-to-left motion. Make sure you’re consistent in your direction so you’re not spreading dirt and pathogens over surfaces you just cleaned.
• For vertical surfaces, start at the top of the room and move down.
• Lastly, clean the floor with a damp microfiber flat mop. Dust and dirt that aren’t collected by the microfiber products in the first wipe will fall down to the floor and should be picked up with the flat mop.

Be sure to read each chemical manufacturer’s label for guidance on pathogens it’s able to kill as well as the amount of time the surface must remain wet (known as dwell time or contact time) in order to achieve that kill. If the disinfectant doesn’t remain wet on the surface for that full time, there will not be a 100% kill.

Two-in-one cleaners and disinfectants can prove to be effective cleaning solutions and great time savers if applied properly. Once again, before you disinfect surfaces, it’s important that you read the manufacturer’s labels for the proper procedure and to avoid any harmful effects of cleaning products.

Step 3: Rinsing Surfaces

Rinsing after cleaning may be needed because some disinfectants can be damaging to the surface, harmful to humans if ingested or leave behind a residue.

To avoid damage to surfaces, make sure the disinfectant is safe for application on the particular surface you’re trying to disinfect. This information can typically be found on the chemical manufacturer’s label. 

Some disinfectant products are ineffective against certain pathogens like C. diff, which may require you to choose a more powerful and possibly more caustic chemical. In those cases, you’ll want to be sure that you limit the disinfectant’s use to just those surface areas of concern and follow up with a clean-water rinse as soon as the dwell time has been met.

When disinfecting in food environments, such as kitchens and dining rooms, it’s critical that a clean-water rinse is performed to prevent people from ingesting the chemicals.

Some surface disinfectants can leave behind a residue. While not all chemical residue left behind is harmful to surfaces or humans, it is often unsightly. A simple rinse with a wet cloth can take care of the issue and keep your community looking neat and tidy.

The Dangers of Deferred Maintenance

For one community, deferred maintenance had dangerous and costly consequences.

On one hot summer day, a heatwave hit a building from the inside and outside when a chiller went down. The community’s chiller was running long past its recommended use cycle and was only undergoing temporary fixes. A phone call from a caregiver in the west wing informed the building’s maintenance staff that the temperature seemed to be rising in that area. This was only the beginning of the underserviced chiller’s impact on the community.

Residents in the west wing began to experience headaches, nausea and other symptoms from the rising temperatures. Community caregivers relocated them to another area of the building, only to find the same hot temperatures impacting that area. It didn’t take long for the entire building to be at an unhealthy and dangerous temperature for its residents. The sweaty and sticky situation resulted in an emergency call for a rental unit. However, with the heatwave impacting the entire regional area- there were no rental units available.

The entire building had to be evacuated. Residents experienced unhealthy conditions and family members were disappointed with the community’s level of care. All of this was because of deferred maintenance. 

What is Deferred Maintenance?

Deferred maintenance is the postponing of necessary maintenance work and repairs. It commonly occurs due to a lack of budget or staffing resources needed to complete maintenance repairs. However, deferred maintenance can lead to additional repairs and fixes, air quality issues and increased energy absorption for buildings.

Myth: Quick, temporary repairs are cheaper and more cost-effective.

Fact: Deferred repairs end up being more expensive in the long haul with equipment rentals, lead times and emergency situations that arise.

What are the Hidden Dangers and Costs of Deferring Maintenance?

When calculating deferred maintenance costs, there is more than just the capital dollars to take into consideration. Here are some of the top costs and consequences that arise from  a lack of proper maintenance:

Evacuations. Evacuations are one of the worst-case scenarios of deferred maintenance. Full building evacuations to move residents and their medical records can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for communities. Most commonly, they are caused by failed chillers and improper chiller maintenance.

Long lead times & emergency equipment rentals. Common maintenance equipment is currently on a backlog with a lead time of months from most manufacturers. While any equipment in your building is out, you’re paying rental fees for temporary replacements. The longer you have to wait, the more you have to pay. It costs more to wait until the equipment breaks rather than following a routine repair and check-up schedule.

Sick building syndrome. Sick building syndrome refers to indoor air quality causing respiratory sickness and breathing problems for staff and residents. It’s attributed to cleaning chemicals in the air, as well as skin, dander, dust and outdoor smoke. Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization, HVAC filtration and planned maintenance, as well as portable air purifiers can help combat sick building syndrome in your staff and residents.

Fines and regulation violations. Buildings not following regular preventive maintenance schedules and deferring maintenance repairs may find themselves subject to Life Safety violations and OSHA fines related to building temperature and indoor air quality standards. OSHA fines can range from $15,000 to $150,000 based on the severity of the violation. View our webinar on OSHA’s recent Emergency Standardization and what it means for ventilation in your healthcare setting.

Opening a ticket for a deferred maintenance project could cost a community around $500. From deferred maintenance equipment rentals, overtime service hours and resulting fines, a community may be looking at expenses starting at $10,000- that’s a big capital difference.

Most Commonly Deferred Maintenance Equipment and Repairs

Below are some of the most commonly deferred maintenance items. Are any in need of attention in your building?

• HVAC units around 11-12 years old
• Cooling towers and chillers at end of equipment life
• Water heaters and boilers around 11-15 years old
• Outdated facility control systems
• Emergency generators

Dusting Off Your Deferred Maintenance Projects

When evaluating your deferred maintenance budget and equipment in need of attention, it might be hard to know where to even start. Here are three steps to get you started when evaluating your next complex project:

1. Know and record the useful life of all your major mechanical building systems. If equipment is nearing the end of its useful life, consider starting a project to replace it before it begins to fail.
2. Follow manufacturer warnings and preventive maintenance schedules on new equipment. Keep track of any pieces of equipment that have required any extra repairs in the past 12-18 months. These items may be projects to consider getting started. 
3. Be proactive about taking care of your equipment and consider computerized maintenance management software, like TELS Platform. 
4. To avoid long maintenance lead times and hefty equipment rental fees, prioritize your organization’s deferred maintenance list before capital planning season.

By incorporating preventive maintenance software and getting started on complex projects, you can reduce your maintenance backlog and save time and money on your building’s equipment maintenance costs. If you take care of your building and its equipment, it will take care of your staff and residents.

Understanding F604 and Restraint Definitions

F-Tag 604 states, in part, that the resident has the right to be free from any physical or chemical restraints imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience, and not required to treat the resident’s medical symptoms. First, let’s understand what a restraint is.

CMS guidelines define a Physical Restraint as any manual method, physical or mechanical device equipment, or material that meets ALL of the following criteria:

1. Is attached or adjacent to the resident’s body;
2. Cannot be removed easily by the resident; and
3. Restricts the resident’s freedom of movement or normal access to his/her body.

Further, a resident’s physical condition and his/her cognitive status may be contributing factors in determining whether the resident has the ability to remove it.

For more information, see State Operations Manual, Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities ».

Are bed alarms for falls considered restraints?

In the case of either a silent or audible bed alarm for falls, the following conditions may cause it to be considered a restraint:

Keep the focus on person-centered care

When addressing this challenge, it’s important to remain adaptable with a focus on person-centered care. This, after all, is a focus of F604 and many of the changes in the new CMS guidance. Potential solutions and their classification as a restraint will change from one resident to the next. Your staff should continually assess and reassess residents’ needs and abilities to be sure the products they are using are best suited for each particular resident. Explore multiple options to determine what would be the safest and most useful solution for each resident and always be sure to document the results of each assessment in the care plan so everyone is aware of steps taken and alternatives that are attempted for each resident. And be sure to reassess products used with any change in the resident’s mobility or health condition.

Contact us to find solutions for your unique community.

Learn more about providing quality care amidst rapid regulatory change:

How to Create an Orientation Training Program to Replace Quarterly Fire Drills

• An in-person training session should review the Facility Fire and Life Safety Program with staff, including elements of the fire plan that may have changed as facility conditions have changed in response to COVID-19
• Training should include all employees, including temporary employees
• In-service can be performed monthly by the education coordinator, maintenance staff or administrator
• Training should review what is expected for fire drills, key features of fire protection in the facility and how they work
• Staff should be instructed of current duties, Life Safety procedures and protection devices in their assigned areas
• Review policies, procedures and expectations (e.g., What should be done if the alarm is sounded?)
• Training can include additional drills for emergency preparedness like severe weather
• Documentation should include an agenda, presentation materials and sign-in sheets for staff attending

Review the Main Details and Information of K:711, Fire Safety Plan

K:711 Contains 9 Main Sections

As a reminder, K:711 states that a written health care occupancy fire safety plan should include the following sections. Train staff on these elements of the plan as part of your Orientation Training Program.

6. Evacuation of immediate area

• Immediate removal of direct threat

7. Evacuation of smoke compartment

• Recuse through horizontal exit
• Move to area of refuse

8. Preparation of floors and building for evacuation

• Horizontal/vertical
• Transportation

9. Extinguishment of fire

• Sprinklers
• Fire extinguishers (P.A.S.S.)

Conduct Monthly Drills If Facility Conditions Allow

R = RESCUE. Rescue anyone in immediate danger.
A = ALERT. Alert all staff by activating the nearest fire alarm and use the intercom to communicate the fire and location. The person in charge shall call 911.
C = CONTAIN. Contain fire and smoke by closing all doors and windows in the area.
E = EXTINGUISH/EVACUATE. Extinguish if the fire is small enough. EVACUATE smoke/fire compartment if possible.

Define Duties of Personnel

• Exact duties of various personnel or staff members should be defined in the facility’s Emergency Plan
• Response using Incident Command
• Notify the fire department
• Staff-specific assignments
• Nursing keeps a roster of all residents in case evacuation is necessary
• Incident Commander should meet or assign someone to meet first responders

Be Prepared in the Event of a Fire Emergency

Ensure Exits and Fire Doors Are Clear and Accessible

• In a fire, exits and fire doors are the only means of escape
• Exits and corridors should be kept clear of equipment and furniture
• Fire doors close automatically in a fire and are intended to contain fire and smoke
• Never prop or block fire doors from closing properly

Know the Sounds and Visuals of Your Fire Alarm System

Controlling a Fire

P = PULL. Pull the safety pin on the extinguisher.
A = AIM. Aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
S = SQUEEZE. Squeeze the handle to discharge the material.
S = SWEEP. Use the sweeping motion with the extinguisher at the base of the fire from side to side.

Ensure Safety Precautions Are in Place During Evacuation

• Do not open a door into an area where a suspected fire might be. To check doors:
  • Brace your shoulder and foot against the door and slowly open it
  • If smoke seeps through, close the door
  • If there is no heat or smoke, proceed to evacuate
• Close all doors as you pass
• Do not allow anyone to return to the area
• Do not run!

Note: All guidelines provided were developed in conjunction with resources from CMS, CDC, AHCA along with guidance and support from Kenneth Daily, President of Elder Care Systems Group, NPFA Technical Committee Board member, AHCA Life Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee member.

Direct Supply® TELS® specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Direct Supply is not affiliated with or endorsed by CMS. This tool is not a comprehensive outline of all survey processes, nor is it or is it intended to be legal advice. It does not replace regulations, statutes or official CMS policy and may not reflect current policy. Additional federal, state and local requirements may apply. Contact your AHJ for further details regarding how these processes may apply to your particular facility. © 2020, Direct Supply® TELS®, all rights reserved.

Highlights of the new developments include:

• A new COVID-19 reporting requirement for nursing homes has been implemented and CMS is partnering with CDC’s federal disease surveillance system to quickly identify problem areas and inform future infection control actions
• A performance-based funding requirement tied to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act supplemental grants for State Survey Agencies and guidance for the limited resumption of routine survey activities
• Enhancing the penalties for noncompliance with infection control to provide greater accountability and consequence for failures to meet these basic requirements

“This latest from CMS is a message to survey agencies to kick it into gear as much as it is for facilities to be ready. “Surveyors are being forced to act, which unfortunately means more pressure on providers at a time when they could benefit from more support, not surveys. Providers need to be aware that these increased surveys are on the immediate horizon.”

– Liz Jensen, Direct Supply Clinical Director

Here Are 4 Ways That You Can Prepare for CMS’s Increasing Enforcement of Infection Control Deficiencies

1. Review the COVID-19 Focused Survey for Nursing Homes

The COVID-19 Focused Survey for Nursing Homes is used to investigate compliance at F880, F884 (CMS Federal surveyors only), F885 and E0024 for surveyors to determine whether a facility is implementing proper infection prevention and control practices to prevent the development and transmission of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases and infections. Buildings should review the checklist to ensure they’re prepared in the event of a survey.

For even greater control, users of the TELS Building Management solution can upload the checklist as part of their Site Visit tool for each building to complete and assign a Best Practice Task to ensure completion and documentation. Current users can sign in, or call 800-667-3880 if you’re interested in learning more.

2. Keep Up with and Implement Cleaning Best Practices for Infection Control

It’s essential to ensure proper cleaning techniques and processes are implemented throughout your community and staff, including: 

Need an extra hand? Direct Supply TELS Building Services is proud to offer professional Cleaning & Disinfecting Services for Senior Living communities nationwide. From common areas to resident rooms, put reliable EPA-registered List N disinfectant application and deep cleaning to work in your community with our specially trained cleaning professionals.

3. Maintain a Supply of Masks, PPE, Disinfectants and Thermometers

To support the cleaning techniques and processes in your community, it is just as essential to ensure staff have access to the cleaning solutions and protective equipment they need, including:

4. Read Up on Best Practices and Recommendations for Infection Control Solutions

The experts at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) have put together helpful resources on best practices and recommendations for the use of various forms of PPE, including:

What is NFPA 25 and how is the content laid out?

NFPA 25 covers the standard for the inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems. Generally, most NFPA documents follow a format similar to the following in regard to the first three chapters, and the remaining chapters are specific to NFPA 25.

• Chapter 9: Water Storage Tanks
• Chapter 10: Water Spray Fixed Systems
• Chapter 11: Foam-Water Sprinkler Systems
• Chapter 12: Water Mist Sprinkler Systems
• Chapter 13: Valves, Valve
  Components and Trim
• Chapter 14: Obstruction Investigation
• Chapter 15: Impairments

What is the scope of NFPA 25?

An NFPA 25 inspection applies to a properly installed fire sprinkler system only and is the standard for inspecting, not for installing. Systems other than those, which have been properly installed, are beyond the scope of NFPA 25. An inspection is a visual inspection performed from the ground.

Why do sprinkler systems fail?

The NFPA reports that most system failures are due to lack of proper maintenance. Here, we go over common reasons for system failures and the purpose of NFPA 25 inspection requirements to help reduce them, as well as owner and contractor responsibilities, including drawings, record-keeping and notification of appropriate parties. One of the most important aspects of the inspection process is paperwork. Always keep detailed records and include photos if necessary.

What are the highlights of NFPA 25 inspection requirements?

Chapter 5 covers sprinkler systems and the minimum requirements for routine inspection and maintenance. This chapter and webinar section outlines:

5. Waterflow Alarms
6. Supervisory Switches
7. Hydraulic Nameplate

How are sprinklers inspected and what types of things are being looked for?

Per NFPA 25 5.2.1.1, sprinklers shall be inspected from the floor. Per NFPA 25 5.2.1.1.2, a sprinkler that shows signs of the following shall be replaced: leaking, painted, corroded, damaged, loaded or in the improper orientation (side wall, upright, pendent, etc.). Further, per 5.2.1.1.3, glass bulb sprinklers that are empty shall be replaced. Here we explore these issues in more detail.

What is inspected in regard to pipe/fittings and hangers/seismic bracing?

These generally follow the same guidelines as sprinklers, including visual inspection from the floor and that concealed items are not to be inspected. Here, we talk in more detail about why that is, potential repair recommendations and examples.

How often are gauges, waterflow alarms, supervisory signal initiating devices, and hydraulic design information signs to be inspected?

Gauges are to be inspected on a weekly and quarterly basis. Breaking this down by system, we land on:

• Dry systems with supervised air: Inspect gauges weekly
• Dry systems protecting freezers: Compare gauges at compressor and above dry pipe valve clapper to check for ice blockage in air line

Are there any specific component inspections that are not part of chapter 5?

The following inspections of specific components or procedures will be found in their own chapters of NFPA 25:

• Impairments: Chapter 15
• Hose Connections: Chapters 6 and 13

What are some of the requirements around sprinkler testing and types?

Sprinklers shall be replaced or a representative sample shall be tested by a recognized testing laboratory. This includes sprinklers that have been in service for 50 years or more. Retesting is done at 10-year intervals. When sprinklers reach 75 years, they shall be tested at 5-year intervals. Sprinklers manufactured prior to 1920 shall be replaced. A representative sample consists of not less than 4 sprinklers or 1% of the total number of installed sprinklers of a particular type. If one sprinkler tested fails the testing, all of that type of sprinkler shall be replaced. Here, we’ll also dive in deeper to these NFPA 25 requirements as well as into fast-response, temperature-rated and dry sprinklers, and sprinklers exposed to harsh conditions.

How does testing apply to alarm devices and anti-freeze systems?

Pressure switches and mechanical waterflow detection shall be tested on a quarterly basis. Vain type flow switches shall be tested on a semi-annual basis. All testing shall be performed using the inspector’s test connection, with the exception that the bypass connection may be used if freezing conditions exist.

Annually, before the onset of freezing weather, the anti-freeze solution shall be tested using the procedures outlined, with the caveat that there have been significant changes to the use and concentration levels of anti-freeze at this time. Here, we discuss this in more detail, but please reference NFPA 25 to ensure understanding of the latest procedure.

What procedures should be followed when it comes to sprinkler maintenance and replacement?

When replacing sprinklers, replace with like sprinklers only, including:

On March 23, CMS announced a COVID-19 Focused Survey to assess a Skilled Nursing Facility’s infection control policies and preparedness. Join Kenn Daily as he reviews the CMS Focused Survey mandate and the seven critical sections included, how Senior Living providers have responded so far, and much more.

Kenneth Daily
LNHA & Life Safety and Emergency Preparedness Specialist

Kenn shares his thoughts on best practices, planning and preparedness, as well as how facility leaders can rise to the challenge assisting staff and residents in navigating these challenging times. Not just theory, Kenn has been serving as the administrator of a 92-bed community severely impacted by COVID-19, with more than 35 positive cases and six deaths.

What are some of the major changes by CMS to survey policies and guidance so far?

In the past month, nearly everything we knew about the survey process has changed, except that we are all still certified to provide Medicare & Medicaid Skilled Nursing Services. There are now many federal blanket waivers as well as state waivers. In the past several days, we have seen unpreceded actions by the federal government to waive specific requirements of certification, known mostly as 1135 Waivers. These include:

• Resident Transfer & Discharge
• 3-Day & Spell of Illness Waivers
• PASRR
• Minimum Data Set
• Staffing Data Submission
• Physician Visits

What is Incident Command and why is it important?

As you plan, think to yourself: “Who are the three or four people I want getting together in the room when the nurse shows up and says there is a COVID-19-positive case?” This is the core of your Incident Command.

Incident Command is critical to the COVID emergency preparedness. Facilities must identify leadership to avoid confusion and manage resources such as screening, staffing and PPE. Think about a normal survey. When a surveyor shows up, everybody in the building does not go to the front door, and this should be especially true now. The first step is to name an Incident Management Team (IMT) to address COVID-19 preparedness and response if and when a confirmed case happens, as well as to name an Incident Commander (IC). This single person isresponsible for the following:

• Recruits assistance as needed
• Keeps senior administration informed
• Coordinates with other response partners as necessary (e.g., EMS, fire, law enforcement, public health)

What are important issues in regard to communications, supplies, lockdown, screening and tracking?

County health departments and county EMAs are some of the most important contacts for you. They can help you get supplies and they also approve testing. You will want to know these people. Having adequate supplies on-hand before an outbreak occurs can help keep you from scrambling after a confirmed case.

Your IC will determine with the IMT when it would be necessary to initiate a facility lockdown, and will run point on announcement, direction and implementation. Your facility’s single entrance and screening station will include transmission-based precautions, such as screening logs, pens, thermometers, 60%-or-greater alcohol-based hand sanitizer and additional PPE as necessary.  

Staff tracking and screening should include detailed records of exposure, timeline of symptoms and other factors. In regard to resident screening and tracking, the facility should have a process to identify and manage residents with symptoms of COVID-19, which include temperatures at or greater than 100°F and/or cough, fever and sore throat, upon admission and daily during their stay in the facility.

What is CMS Memo 20-20-ALL and how does it relate to survey guidance moving forward?

The memo contains two main parts:

2. The second half relates to the specific COVID-19 Focused Survey

Facilities must maintain compliance at F880 (Infection Control). Infection Control was the number one citation even before COVID-19, so it will remain important for everyone for a long time to come. You can refer to specific QSO memos here.

What can I expect in regard to off-site and on-site COVID-19 Focused Surveys?

With an off-site survey, surveyors may be looking at prior years’ surveys, specifically in regard to infection control, as well as calling you and asking you for policies, suppliers, PPE procurement and other things. With an on-site survey, you should limit it to one or two surveyors to come to your building. It’s recommended your staff offers them PPE, including an N95 mask, upon screening.

What are the seven areas of the COVID-19 Focused Survey? 

As you prepare, facilities should utilize the COVID-19 Focused Survey as a self-assessment tool, which includes the following seven key areas that surveyors will focus on.

5. Visitor Entry
6. Education, Monitoring & Screening of Staff
7. Emergency Preparedness – Staffing in Emergencies

TELS is here to help you through this difficult situation with tools, guides, best practices (such as this webinar) and more. A new TELS checklist is available now for your organization to customize, share and implement to support you as your community prepares for the COVID-19 Focused Survey.

Sign in to your account today at TELS.net for this or other COVID-19–specific resources that can help you convert policy into action, heighten visibility and communication, or simply help with everyday building management. Not yet a TELS user? Click here or call 800-667-3880 to learn more.

Help Increase Safety

The most important thing to consider when using a sit-to-stand lift is helping to ensure safety for both the resident and the caregiver. Before using any lift equipment, you must complete a resident assessment by a qualified clinician. The assessment should be:

1. Multi-factorial (physical, mental, cognitive, etc.)
2. Documented
3. Communicated to caregivers
4. Repeated (at time of admission, passage of time, change of condition, etc.)

While the assessment outlines requirements for the resident, we recommend a similar process to help ensure the caregiver is prepared for the lifting procedure and knows how to use a sit-to-stand lift. A caregiver should follow the below sit-to-stand lift instructions:

1. Know the resident’s care plan requirements
2. Verify the resident’s name, physical capabilities, mental status and medical condition
3. Complete a visual lift and sling inspection before each use

4. Disinfect hands and sling both before and after use
5. Engage the resident and explain the lifting procedure

Help Improve Outcomes

After ensuring the proper requirements and procedures are met, the next step is to look at the many ways a sit-to-stand lift can improve outcomes in your community. In addition to simple transfers, these lifts can be a powerful exercise tool to help improve residents’ strength as a way to reduce dependency on lifting devices. To meet the shift of rising acuity in senior living, transfer and lifting devices can help achieve residents’ health and wellness goals. ​Additionally, they can open up a wider range of activities and interventions that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Consider these applications as potentially applicable for a resident: