Washington State Department of Health ​Resources for In-Home Care Providers

The Washington State Department of Health, Healthcare-Associated Infections Section has shared important information and resources with in-home care providers about preventing the spread of COVID-19 between staff and clients/patients. Below are resources on Personal Protective Equipment, N95 Respirators and Screening of Staff. The Department is also working on updating its guidance documents to reflect current evidence and guidance from the CDC. 

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Resources

Personal Protective Equipment
When community transmission is moderate or high (as it is throughout Washington state currently), healthcare providers should wear a surgical face mask and eye protection for ALL patient care encounters, regardless of patient/client COVID-19 status. Clients should wear a cloth face covering or facemask during care, if possible. Screen clients for symptoms and exposure upon entry to the home. Healthcare providers, including caregivers, should wear a disposable surgical face mask, and remove it after each patient visit or if become soiled.
 
N95 Respirators

• N95 Respirators (or facemask if N95 is not available) should be worn by staff when they are caring for a patient or client with known or suspected COVID-19. A “fit test” is a procedure that tests the seal between the respirator's facepiece and your face. It is done by someone who is trained in fit testing and takes a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes. (Source: OSHA). It is the responsibility of agencies to make significant efforts to provide fit-tested N95 respirators to their staff who are caring for known or suspected COVID-19 patients/clients. If N95 respirators are not available, a surgical face mask with a face shield may be worn and provides acceptable protection. The Department understands that sourcing N95 respirators and fit testing for staff can be difficult. Here are some resources to assist:
  • The Department of Health has funds to provide some limited fit testing to in-home care agency staff, and can also provide qualitative fit testing kits and training so agencies can fit test staff. Agencies interested in accessing this resource should complete this survey as soon as possible. This funding ends December 31.
  • To obtain N95 respirators, agencies should attempt to order through normal PPE suppliers. If agencies experience difficulty obtaining PPE, contact your local Emergency Management Agency. 
  • For information in setting up a Respiratory Protection Program, click here for information from LNI.  Agencies can also feel free to contact the Department's Occupational Health Nurse, Mikkie Nakamura, at [email protected] for help with questions about Respiratory Protection Programs. 
  • N95s are not designed to be reused, however when supplies are low they can be. Click here for information from the CDC on respirator reuse.

 
Screening of Staff and Exclusion from Work

• Screen staff for symptoms or exposures to COVID-19 daily before beginning work. Staff who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should be excluded from work for 14 days after their last exposure. Staff who are symptomatic should be encouraged to seek COVID-19 testing promptly. They should also be excluded from work until they meet the Return to Work Criteria. 
• Make and share policies for flexible medical leave with staff and instruct them on how and who to tell if they believe they are sick with COVID-19. Sick staff should stay home.
• If multiple staff are excluded from work due to exposure, refer to the CDC Guidance on Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages.  
• Click here for information for staff on unemployment compensation related to exclusion from work.  

 
Questions?
Email the Department at [email protected] with questions.