Situation Report | November 23, 2020
In case you missed our alert last week, Sarah Ravenhall, Executive Director of the New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO), joined HCA President Al Cardillo in a letter to all county health commissioners whose departments oversee the local public health response to COVID-19. Together they urge commissioners to look to home care agencies as a critical partner and resource that can assist with county-level COVID-19 testing capacity through in-home specimen collection. The letter also encourages participation in HCA’s grant-funded “Home Care Clinician Training for COVID-19 Testing.”
“As the lead health strategists within New York’s communities, we want to be certain that local health departments are aware of this resource,” the letter states. “If you have not done so already, NYSACHO and HCA jointly encourage county health departments to connect and coordinate with the home care agencies serving your communities.”
Just as importantly, the letter also has a message for home care providers: “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.”
If your organization is not among those trained to provide testing, please enroll your nurses in HCA’s program today by completing the form here.