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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Provider Notice issued 06/19/06

To: Providers of Supportive Living

Date: June 19, 2006

Re: Resident List-Water Temperatures-Volunteers-Disposal of Sharps-Nursing Assistant

Following are topics that require clarification as the result of inquiries from Department and supportive living facility (SLF) staff.

Resident List

Upon Department staff’s arrival at an SLF to conduct annual certification reviews, the SLF must provide a list of all current residents to the review staff. The list must provide the following information:

 

    • Resident Name
    • Resident I.D. Number (Private or Medicaid)
    • Date of Admission
    • Date of Birth
    • Determination of Need Score
    • Room Number

 

Water Temperatures

SLFs are required to maintain hot water temperatures between 95 degrees F and 120 degrees F in resident rooms and any other areas of the SLF that are accessible to residents.

Facilities should maintain a log or checklist to show that water temperatures are being checked at least monthly. Documentation that water temperature is being checked should include:

 

  • Areas of the facility where the water temperatures were checked (should include a random sample of resident rooms);
  • Date the checks were done; and
  • Temperature of the water in the areas of the facility that were checked.

 

Volunteers

Volunteers working in SLFs are not required to undergo a Health Care Worker Background Check. SLFs may voluntarily conduct background checks, however, this Department or the Department of Public Health will not provide waivers for volunteers who were convicted of committing or attempting to commit one or more of the identified offenses. The Department recommends checking volunteers against the Illinois Sex Offender Registration website at www.isp.state.il.us and/or the Illinois Department of Corrections registered sex offender database at <www.idoc.state.il.us>.

Disposal of Sharps/Medical Waste

The following information is to clarify the disposal of sharps and medical waste for SLF residents.

 

  • For the safety of residents and staff, sharps should not be disposed of in wastebaskets found in resident rooms.
  • Sharps should be disposed of in containers that are rigid and leak resistant. While the Department would recommend that the SLF purchase proper red biohazard containers for the disposal of sharps, two examples of other containers that are acceptable according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are plastic laundry detergent containers and metal coffee cans.
  • When a container is full, the EPA recommends that it be capped and taped prior to the container being thrown in the garbage receptacle outside the SLF.
  • If a clear plastic container is used, the EPA recommends that the containers be placed in black plastic bags when thrown into the garbage receptacle outside the SLF to disguise the fact that needles are being thrown away, and to discourage “dumpster diving.”
  • Medical waste, such as bandages, gauze, etc., should not be disposed of directly into a wastebasket without a plastic garbage bag in place.
  • It is not required that an SLF contract with a certified medical waste hauler to dispose of sharps or medical waste unless required by local ordinances.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

  • A person who is to be employed by an SLF as a CNA must successfully complete a nursing assistant training course or a Department of Public Health approved equivalent training and competency evaluation no later than 120 days after employment.
  • At least a total of 16 hours of training in the areas found in the federal regulations at 42 CFR 483.152(b) must be completed by the employee prior to any direct contact with a resident.
  • While working and taking a CNA course, a person cannot perform tasks that have not been studied and signed off on by the course instructor.
  • A licensed nurse must be working during the same shift as a person who is in the process of taking a CNA course if that person is performing CNA related duties. An SLF will be held responsible for any actions taken by non-certified staff who is in direct contact with residents and performing personal care services.

 

Please contact the Bureau of Long Term Care at 217-524-7245 if you have any questions or comments.

 

 

Anne Marie Murphy, Ph.D.
Administrator
Division of Medical Programs