Department of Health Deploys Survey Teams to Conduct COVID-19 related Assisted Living Onsite Visits

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 11 March 2020 11 March 2020

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has deployed its health care survey team to conduct onsite visits of the 269 licensed assisted living facilities statewide. State survey staff will focus on providing COVID-19 related infection control guidance, written visitor protocols and to address staff, family and resident questions or concerns.

Facilities will receive:

  • An onsite visit by a state long term care survey team member;
  • Observations and provide feedback on current infection control surveillance from NMDOH staff
  • Written instructions and signage for visitors and residents on infections control protocols;
  • Direction to websites that can provide up to date information on CDC and NMDOH COVID-9 protocols
  • Ongoing support and guidance to all facility staff, residents and family members.

“As a result of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's unwavering support of New Mexico’s elderly, the Department of Health has been empowered to provide improved support to New Mexico’s long-term health care residents, not just related to COVID-19 but everyday," said NMDOH Division of Health Improvement Director Chris Burmeister. "We are proud to serve alongside leadership that prioritizes our seniors' ongoing care and well being."

NMDOH continues to work closely and implement best practices with our long-term care partners. These include: Aging and Long-term Services Division (ALTSD), Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the New Mexico Health Care Association (NMHCA), and New Mexico's 71 nursing homes in to ensure that the health and safety, and advocacy rights of our elderly are protected.

"Aging and Long-Term Services Department works closely with NMDOH and other state partners and providers to protect the health and safety of residents," said Aging & Long-Term Services Secretary Katrina Hotrum-Lopez. "The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is available to address residents, providers and family members concerns."

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.