UPDATE: Guidance on Transfers From Hospital to Nursing Homes

As the COVID outbreak continues to grow in Colorado, both hospitals and long term care providers are working to safely and appropriately transfer hospital patients to long term care communities.  In order to promote productive conversations between provider types CHCA has partnered with the Colorado Hospital Association, Leading Age Colorado, and the Colorado Medical Directors Association to create a set of jointly endorsed transfer documents. The idea behind our effort is to make sure that all provider types have a shared understanding of the circumstances when COVID positive or COVID uncertain patients can be transferred to long term care, and when they should not be transferred.

The joint letter is being shared with all nursing homes and hospitals in Colorado along with American Health Care Association guidance on appropriate transfers and a transfer form that hospitals can complete on each potential transfer to help nursing homes with their decision making.

I want to make clear that nothing in this letter or the accompanying documents is intended to compel providers to take any particular action but is shared in the interest of a common understanding.  Providers must continue to work within the boundaries of available staff and other resources in providing safe care environments.   We hope that these resources will help with conversations taking place between hospitals and nursing homes throughout the state.

CHCA will be hosting a conference call for providers tomorrow, Friday, April 3 at Noon to provide an overview of the guidance.  We will be recording the call and making it available on our website by Saturday morning.  The call can be accessed by using the number below:

Call-In:                 888-575-5157

Guest Code:       8857454

In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you.  Doug