DOH HCS Notice Encourages HCA COVID-19 Testing Initiative: Have You Enrolled?

Situation Report | November 30, 2020

The state Department of Health (DOH) last week widely broadcast a reminder about the opportunity to get trained on COVID-19 specimen collection procedures through HCA.

“Under a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA), Iroquois Healthcare Alliance (IHA) and clinical faculty at the Mohawk Valley Health System are delivering web-based training for health care personnel and agencies on COVID-19 testing procedures that can be conducted in clients’ homes,” writes DOH in a notification sent through the Health Commerce System (HCS) to health care providers, Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plans, managed care organizations, home care agencies, hospices and local health departments. “This complimentary training is open to all home care personnel and other health care personnel and agencies in New York State whose scope of practice permits testing (i.e., nurses and respiratory therapists).”

HCA likewise encourages providers and plans to enroll their clinical staff in this effort by completing the form at https://hca-nys.org/testing. The grant supporting this initiative expires at the end of December, so please act today.

Who else encourages you to enroll?

“Home care agencies whose staff are trained to test are being encouraged to contact their county health department to offer availability and willingness to collaborate on in-home specimen collection for COVID-19 testing,” writes the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO) in a recent letter to county health commissioners referencing HCA’s training program.

“With flu season around the corner, and the likelihood of additional COVID-19 surges, now is the time to act on behalf of your patients, your organization, and your community,” says HCA Executive Vice President for Clinical and Program Affairs Rebecca Fuller Gray in a recent video message to nurses. “Talk to your agency’s clinical manager to enroll your entire team in this course today.”