The CDC Guidance for Oral Health has updated practices for COVID-19. Click here for a link to the website. A summary of recent changes includes:
- The recommendation to wait 15 minutes after completion of clinical care and exit of each patient without suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to begin to clean and disinfect room surfaces has been removed to align with CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings.
- The time period recommended for patients to inform the dental clinic if they develop symptoms or are diagnosed with COVID-19 following a dental appointment has been changed to 2 days to align with CDC’s Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk Assessment and Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure to COVID-19.
Project Finish Line Resources
COVID Enders Toolkit
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SEARCH YOUR COUNTY FOR UP TO DATE COVID-19 INFORMATION
TN Department of Health's Resources
CLICK THE + BELOW TO EXPAND
American Medical Association: A Physician Practice Guide to Reopening
LIVE UPDATES: CORONAVIRUS IN THE MID-SOUTH
APRIL 2020 UPDATES
4.22.20 TDH UPDATES AND RESOURCES
State Updates and Resources
Tennessee Department of Health Updates (by constituencies)
Tennessee Division of TennCare (suspending terminations).
MARCH 2020 UPDATES
3.31.20 TDH WEEKLY situation update 3.27.20
3.30.20 FRom mhamt: The mental health impact of COVID-19 will persist longer than the physical virus. resources & help
The mental health impact of COVID-19 will persist longer than the physical virus. Consider the anxiety, trauma, and depression caused by job loss, isolation, seclusion, and the unpredictability about the virus that threatens the life and safety of individuals and their family members. Here are mental health resources that should be made available to your constituents:
Please share with your social media, workplace, and colleagues.
Thank you,
Tom Starling, Ed.D.
President/CEO
Mental Health America of MidSouth
(Formerly Mental Health Association of Middle TN)
446 Metroplex Dr, Suite A-224, Nashville, TN 37211
1350 Concourse Ave, Ste 142, Memphis, TN 38104
Main Phone: 615-269-5355
Main Fax: 615-269-5413
- Text “TN” to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line and to immediately be connected to a trained crisis counselor 24/7. Click this link to learn about the Crisis Text Line
- The “My Health Care Home” website directs Middle Tennesseans to their nearest charitable clinic (i.e., Matthew Walker, Neighborhood Health, Neighborhood Health, etc.). It includes prescription discounts, screenings, and more information at www.myhchTN.org.
- The Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 800-273-8255. If preferred, you can go to the website and participate in a chat feature.
- Go HERE for free, anonymous, evidence-based screenings for anxiety, depression, trauma, etc. Parents can take a screening to determine if their children are showing symptoms of depression or anxiety. The back-end of the screenings provides local resources and do-it-yourself exercises to help.
- Mental Health America proudly started Mental Health Month in May 1949. Annually, we provide helpful resources to promote May as mental health month. I hope that you find these resources to be helpful: https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month. It includes some COVID-19 bonus materials.
Please share with your social media, workplace, and colleagues.
Thank you,
Tom Starling, Ed.D.
President/CEO
Mental Health America of MidSouth
(Formerly Mental Health Association of Middle TN)
446 Metroplex Dr, Suite A-224, Nashville, TN 37211
1350 Concourse Ave, Ste 142, Memphis, TN 38104
Main Phone: 615-269-5355
Main Fax: 615-269-5413
3.25.20 THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION - LIST OF RESOURCES FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AND LIST OF RESOURCES FOR PATIENTS AND THE PUBLIC.
We are grateful for all you are doing to keep people healthy and safe. We stand ready to support as needed. As one of our first steps, the AHA has created a comprehensive list of resources for health care providers with links to and info about the latest developments and list of resources for patients and the public.
These new pages include information for clinical providers and patients, including:
Like many other organizations, we are working remotely in order to limit transmission. Our local offices may be closed but we are very much open to listen to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 specifically or about our work in general, including our outpatient initiatives that support patients living with chronic conditions. During this time, want you to know we are available for any/all virtual connections to continue work together.
With heart,
Denise
Denise Costanza
VP of Health Strategies, Middle Tennessee
American Heart Association
1818 Patterson St | Nashville | TN | 37203
O 615.340.4107 | M 615.686.1732
These new pages include information for clinical providers and patients, including:
- What heart patients should know about coronavirus
- Patients taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-i) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) medications should continue therapy as prescribed
- Resources to maintain a healthy lifestyle amidst COVID-19 outbreak
- Working out while staying safe during the coronavirus outbreak
- If you hunker down against coronavirus, don't stop reaching out, experts say
- Coronavirus safety tips (video)
- School meal to continue during-coronavirus-closures
- CPR information during COVID-19
Like many other organizations, we are working remotely in order to limit transmission. Our local offices may be closed but we are very much open to listen to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 specifically or about our work in general, including our outpatient initiatives that support patients living with chronic conditions. During this time, want you to know we are available for any/all virtual connections to continue work together.
With heart,
Denise
Denise Costanza
VP of Health Strategies, Middle Tennessee
American Heart Association
1818 Patterson St | Nashville | TN | 37203
O 615.340.4107 | M 615.686.1732
3.25.20 *THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FREE AND CHARITABLE CLINICS: 1. RESOURCE RICH WEBPAGE FOR CLINICS, 2. telemeD TELEHEALTH PROTOCOL AND POLICY
CORVID 19 RESOURCE PAGE: https://www.nafcclinics.org/Coronavirus
FROM THE NAFC: TELEMED TELEHEALTH PROTOCOL AND POLICY
| telemed_policy_2020_o-312.pdf |
3.23.20 TDH - TENNESSEE WEEKLY SITUATION UPDATE - COVID 19
TENNESSEE UPDATE (March 20, 2020)Surveillance
- Please visit the TDH COVID-19 webpage for the most up-to-date case count.
- The TDH State Public Health Laboratory and commercial laboratories have increased capacity to test for the virus causing COVID-19.
- Response
- The TDH State Health Operations Center (SHOC) is activated.
- Hundreds of public health staff are monitoring the situation and working closely with CDC, other state agencies, and metro/regional health departments to protect the people of Tennessee.
- Ongoing TDH activities include:
- Establishing assessment locations at local health departments.
- Maintaining an up-to-date list of assessment sites statewide on the COVID-19 website
- Operating information lines for public inquiries (>2800 calls since 3/5/20).
- Maintaining a clinician’s consultation line within the SHOC (4,313 calls since 1/20/20).
- Sharing information via social media networks and the TDH COVID-19 webpage (over 2 million views since January).
- Conducting telebriefings for healthcare providers, hospitals, and partner agencies.
- Investigating cases, tracing contacts, and monitoring close contacts of cases.
- Developing and disseminating guidance documents.
- Utilizing the Healthcare Resource Tracking System to monitor critical inventories.
- Supporting state laboratory testing.
- IMPORTANT REMINDERS
- Wash your hands often with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand rub) for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with your arm or a tissue and immediately throw it away.
- Clean and disinfect objects (e.g., cell phone, computer) and high-touch surfaces regularly.
- Practice social distancing by staying six feet away from others and avoiding unnecessary travel.
- Stay away from people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- RECENT GUIDANCE UPDATES FROM CDC
- Resources for Large Community Events & Mass Gatherings
- Interim Recommendations for U.S. Households with Suspected/Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Guidance for Caring for Someone at Home
- Healthcare Professionals: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
3.19.20 COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment Conservation Guidance, TDH
| PDF of Personal Protective Equipment Conservation Guidance |
3.19.2020 UPDATE FOR CLINICIANS from Morgan F. McDonald, Deputy Commissioner, TDH
Subject: COVID-19 Update for Clinicians 3.18.20
All-
Thank you for your ongoing willingness to distribute important information to your membership regarding the COVID-19 response. I have several important updates.
The TDH site for COVID-19 resources is https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html. It is updated continuously.
Site of care (assessment and testing)
We continue to encourage patients to seek care first from their usual site of care and to enable providers to accommodate that need. We know that shortages of PPE, of testing supplies, and of testing site availability are increasingly common. While we are looking at every opportunity to fix those problems, permanent solutions are not immediately available and we need your help in addressing these shortages by implementing strategies to conserve PPE and by putting procedures into place to minimize unnecessary tests. This is the biggest tool we have to decrease the demand on supplies and testing sources so that those who need a test the most can get it. Pre-testing assessments (remotely or in person) are critical to conserve PPE and testing supplies and to address fear in the community. Most people do not need a test but they do need your help in assessment (remotely when at all possible – see below).
Providers do NOT need to consult with public health before sending a test to a commercial lab. Providers are advised prioritize testing highly symptomatic and not asymptomatic individuals. Information on testing decision making is here https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/TDH-COVID-triage-and-assessment.pdf. We are continuing to test in the state lab (though our capacity is also limited) through the clinical consult line 615-741-7247, and we are prioritizing those tests for high risk groups and uninsured patients. https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/TDH-COVID-triage-and-assessment.pdf
If you are a clinical outpatient assessment site for the public, please let us know at this website https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/remote-assessment-sites.html and we will update our website for the general public with your information.
Telehealth
There has been a rapid expansion in reimbursement opportunities for telehealth, now including home-based telehealth coverage by nearly every plan in the state during this time of public health response. Please utilize telehealth and telephone triage as much as possible for both sick and well patients. This is critical to minimize public exposure to illness and to optimize capacity for routine and emergent are. Several resources have been put together that I’ve listed below. Utilization of telehealth and telephonic management should be optimized in all settings.
· CMS https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet
· TMA https://www.tnmed.org/TMA/Member_Resources/Telehealth_and_COVID-19
· TNAAP COVID-19 Telehealth Coding Guidance
PPE optimization strategies
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/PPEConservationGuidance.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html
Provides options for extended use, reprocessing, and reuse of the various PPE components given current shortages of PPE being reported in many areas of the state.
Elective procedures and visits
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/index.html
We urge healthcare facilities and clinicians to delay and reschedule elective in person ambulatory visits, surgeries and admissions, and routine dental and eye care to preserve staff, personal protective equipment, and patient care supplies, ensure staff and patient safety, and expand available capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Isolation changes for cases
Public health monitoring changes
Provider Webinar
There will be another provider webinar to share clinical and public health updates for clinicians this Friday at 12pm CST. Individuals or groups can register and additional links and information will be provided.
https://tngov.webex.com/tngov/onstage/g.php?MTID=e1f17cba38752ace8623832081c3e8f31
Any laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 must be reported immediately to 615-741-7247. That number can also be used to request state lab testing and for policy related questions.
Finally, I have attached the email sent on 3.18.20 if you were not on communications at that point. I will continue to send updates as they are needed.
Please continue to stay in touch. Again, we can’t thank you enough for your partnership in this response.
Best to each of you,
Morgan
Morgan F. McDonald, MD FAAP FACP|
Deputy Commissioner
Andrew Johnson Tower, 5th Floor
710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
Office: 615-532-8672 Cell:615-232-4548
morgan.mcdonald@tn.gov
tn.gov/health
Connect with TDH on Facebook and Twitter @TNDeptofHealth!
All-
Thank you for your ongoing willingness to distribute important information to your membership regarding the COVID-19 response. I have several important updates.
The TDH site for COVID-19 resources is https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html. It is updated continuously.
Site of care (assessment and testing)
We continue to encourage patients to seek care first from their usual site of care and to enable providers to accommodate that need. We know that shortages of PPE, of testing supplies, and of testing site availability are increasingly common. While we are looking at every opportunity to fix those problems, permanent solutions are not immediately available and we need your help in addressing these shortages by implementing strategies to conserve PPE and by putting procedures into place to minimize unnecessary tests. This is the biggest tool we have to decrease the demand on supplies and testing sources so that those who need a test the most can get it. Pre-testing assessments (remotely or in person) are critical to conserve PPE and testing supplies and to address fear in the community. Most people do not need a test but they do need your help in assessment (remotely when at all possible – see below).
Providers do NOT need to consult with public health before sending a test to a commercial lab. Providers are advised prioritize testing highly symptomatic and not asymptomatic individuals. Information on testing decision making is here https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/TDH-COVID-triage-and-assessment.pdf. We are continuing to test in the state lab (though our capacity is also limited) through the clinical consult line 615-741-7247, and we are prioritizing those tests for high risk groups and uninsured patients. https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/TDH-COVID-triage-and-assessment.pdf
If you are a clinical outpatient assessment site for the public, please let us know at this website https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/remote-assessment-sites.html and we will update our website for the general public with your information.
Telehealth
There has been a rapid expansion in reimbursement opportunities for telehealth, now including home-based telehealth coverage by nearly every plan in the state during this time of public health response. Please utilize telehealth and telephone triage as much as possible for both sick and well patients. This is critical to minimize public exposure to illness and to optimize capacity for routine and emergent are. Several resources have been put together that I’ve listed below. Utilization of telehealth and telephonic management should be optimized in all settings.
· CMS https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet
· TMA https://www.tnmed.org/TMA/Member_Resources/Telehealth_and_COVID-19
· TNAAP COVID-19 Telehealth Coding Guidance
- TNAAP COVID-19 Telehelath Guidelines by Payer
- TennCare https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/information-statistics/tenncare-information-about-coronavirus.html
PPE optimization strategies
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/PPEConservationGuidance.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html
Provides options for extended use, reprocessing, and reuse of the various PPE components given current shortages of PPE being reported in many areas of the state.
Elective procedures and visits
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/index.html
We urge healthcare facilities and clinicians to delay and reschedule elective in person ambulatory visits, surgeries and admissions, and routine dental and eye care to preserve staff, personal protective equipment, and patient care supplies, ensure staff and patient safety, and expand available capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Isolation changes for cases
- CDC has adjust their recommendations for isolation of cases at home to be for at least 7 days (not 14), including afebrile and feeling well for at least 72 hours.
- Full guidance here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html
- TDH has adapted this recommendation as well: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation+QuarantineRelease.pdf
- Note – contacts still should remain quarantined for 14 days following last exposure.
Public health monitoring changes
- Public health staff are changing their monitoring protocol to include:
- making initial contact with lab confirmed cases,
- conducting a thorough interview to identify close contacts,
- ensuring that the cases understands the requirement to remain isolated (following the directions above) and
- contacting close contacts to explain their exposure, and the recommendation to remain home for 14 days following their exposure.
- Following the initial interview, public health will no longer actively check in with the patient (or contacts) each day, but rather ask the case to get in touch with their provider if they need medical care and public health if they have exposure/isolation/quarantine type questions.
Provider Webinar
There will be another provider webinar to share clinical and public health updates for clinicians this Friday at 12pm CST. Individuals or groups can register and additional links and information will be provided.
https://tngov.webex.com/tngov/onstage/g.php?MTID=e1f17cba38752ace8623832081c3e8f31
Any laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 must be reported immediately to 615-741-7247. That number can also be used to request state lab testing and for policy related questions.
Finally, I have attached the email sent on 3.18.20 if you were not on communications at that point. I will continue to send updates as they are needed.
Please continue to stay in touch. Again, we can’t thank you enough for your partnership in this response.
Best to each of you,
Morgan
Morgan F. McDonald, MD FAAP FACP|
Deputy Commissioner
Andrew Johnson Tower, 5th Floor
710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
Office: 615-532-8672 Cell:615-232-4548
morgan.mcdonald@tn.gov
tn.gov/health
Connect with TDH on Facebook and Twitter @TNDeptofHealth!
3.16.2020 Tennessee Department of Health
Testing is available through TDH for high risk groups needing more rapid turnaround and for uninsured patients needing testing. Please see https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/TDH-COVID-triage-and-assessment.pdf for triage, assessment, and testing guidance.
Patients undergoing testing should isolate at home until results are received. Patients should remain isolated for at least 14 days after the onset of symptoms or until 72 hours symptoms free (whichever is longer). Potential scenarios are further described here https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation+QuarantineRelease.pdf
Patients undergoing testing should isolate at home until results are received. Patients should remain isolated for at least 14 days after the onset of symptoms or until 72 hours symptoms free (whichever is longer). Potential scenarios are further described here https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation+QuarantineRelease.pdf
COVID-19 Public Information Number 877-857-2945 Available 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. CST Daily
PLEASE NOTE: COVID-19 is a reportable disease in Tennessee. Total positives in TN 39
Infectious agent: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Situation Summary: In December 2019, Chinese health authorities identified an outbreak of pneumonia associated with a novel, or new, coronavirus which has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases in China. Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States. There are ongoing investigations to learn more. Click here to access CDC’s COVID-19 webpage for the most up to date information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.
County Case Count
Campbell 1, Davidson 17, Hamilton 1, Jefferson 1, Knox 1, Rutherford 1, Shelby 2, Sullivan 1, Williamson 14
* Data include both confirmed and presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 reported to TDH or tested by TDH since January 21, 2020. These figures are updated daily at 2 p.m. Central time and reflect all cases reported to TDH as of that time.
Click here for TDH Weekly Situation Summary
For the Public
Learn more about this disease
Learn about CDC guidance for travelers
Facility Visitor Guidance
Interim Guidelines: Mass Gatherings/Large Community Events Interim Guidelines: Businesses & Employers Update from TDH Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP on preparedness for COVID-19, 2/28/2020
Video Update from TDH Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP on preparedness for COVID-19, 2/28/2020
Health Care Providers
Triage and assessment
Clinical information about this disease
Report a case of this disease
Report a case of this disease by fax
Submit a specimen for laboratory testing
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators
Preparedness Tools
COVID19 Healthcare Tabletop Exercise Facilitator Manual
COVID19 Healthcare Tabletop Facilitator PPT
COVID19 Healthcare Tabletop Exercise for Participants
Laboratories
Laboratory testing for this disease
Report a case of this disease
TN Specimen Submission Guide (Form 1/3)
TN PH 4182 Laboratory Submission Form (Form 2/3)
CDC PUI Form (Form 3/3)
PLEASE NOTE: COVID-19 is a reportable disease in Tennessee. Total positives in TN 39
Infectious agent: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Situation Summary: In December 2019, Chinese health authorities identified an outbreak of pneumonia associated with a novel, or new, coronavirus which has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases in China. Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States. There are ongoing investigations to learn more. Click here to access CDC’s COVID-19 webpage for the most up to date information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.
County Case Count
Campbell 1, Davidson 17, Hamilton 1, Jefferson 1, Knox 1, Rutherford 1, Shelby 2, Sullivan 1, Williamson 14
* Data include both confirmed and presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 reported to TDH or tested by TDH since January 21, 2020. These figures are updated daily at 2 p.m. Central time and reflect all cases reported to TDH as of that time.
Click here for TDH Weekly Situation Summary
For the Public
Learn more about this disease
Learn about CDC guidance for travelers
Facility Visitor Guidance
Interim Guidelines: Mass Gatherings/Large Community Events Interim Guidelines: Businesses & Employers Update from TDH Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP on preparedness for COVID-19, 2/28/2020
Video Update from TDH Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP on preparedness for COVID-19, 2/28/2020
Health Care Providers
Triage and assessment
Clinical information about this disease
Report a case of this disease
Report a case of this disease by fax
Submit a specimen for laboratory testing
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators
Preparedness Tools
COVID19 Healthcare Tabletop Exercise Facilitator Manual
COVID19 Healthcare Tabletop Facilitator PPT
COVID19 Healthcare Tabletop Exercise for Participants
Laboratories
Laboratory testing for this disease
Report a case of this disease
TN Specimen Submission Guide (Form 1/3)
TN PH 4182 Laboratory Submission Form (Form 2/3)
CDC PUI Form (Form 3/3)
3.16.2020 Tennessee Department of Health
TDH Video: COVID-10 Webinar for Health Care Providers 3/13/20
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Flattening A Pandemic's Curve: Why Staying Home Now Can Save Lives
