By Jim Burke

As we grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents and workers in senior care communities, a hot spot for the coronavirus that may be just as challenging is home health. An estimated 12 million Americans receive some form of care at home, provided by more than 12,000 home health agencies.

The nature of these services means everyone is more at risk of contracting and spreading the coronavirus – patients, their families and caregivers – without precautions to prevent and control contagion. It’s critical that agencies act to protect their safety. Here’s how to offset the risk.

Job One – your people can only work healthy.

The rule is that anyone with symptoms of a respiratory illness stays home. Any home health aides developing symptoms on the job should make sure the client is safe then head for home to self-isolate. Points of contact (people, equipment, locations) must be tracked and health department guidelines on testing and treatment followed.

Identify at-risk clients.

Ideally, the agency may know which clients have been exposed to the coronavirus before sending health care professionals or aides into homes. But workers should identify those at risk too, beforehand and upon arriving at homes. They should check whether the client or household members show respiratory symptoms, or have had contact with anyone who has the coronavirus or exhibits its signs. If they do, the agency’s clinical manager should be informed to assist with the determination on whether isolation at home or hospitalization is necessary, according to U.S. and Canadian health authority guidelines.

Reinforce prevention/control practices.

Clients and their families with known or suspected COVID-19 should be told to stay at home (except for medical appointments), with the contagious individual kept isolated and wearing a face mask when around others. The home health staff should share necessary hygiene measures with clients, like washing hands after covering sneezes or coughs and cleaning/disinfecting high-touch surfaces frequently. Clients also should be encouraged to monitor for symptoms. When therapeutic interventions are needed, healthcare personnel must be limited to only those necessary, and they must wear all required personal protective equipment (PPE). Supplies used must be removed and disinfected, or disposed of properly as per health authority guidelines.

Make sure your teams protect themselves.

When home care workers are visiting homes of clients suspected or known to have coronavirus, they must be fully protected. Guidelines include:

Home healthcare agencies are required by law to report actual or suspected cases of COVID-19. They should expect their actions to be confirmed during surveys and their infection control prevention and education practices to be reviewed.

HUB International’s team is ready to help your organization respond to the opportunities and risks in today’s changing healthcare environment.

Get the latest information, guidance and resources on Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help you protect what matters most on our Coronavirus Resource Center