Screening processes for resident and staff

[Jeanette Durnin]

Hi All,

I just wanted to ask what screening processes other facilities currently have in place, particularly regarding daily temperature checks for residents and entry screening for staff. Are facilities still conducting these screenings regularly, and if so, what methods are being used?

We’re reviewing our protocols and would appreciate any insights into common practices or changes others have made.

Thanks in advance.

Jeanette

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[Carrie Spinks]

Hi Jeanette,

We are looking at the Strengthened Aged Care Standards and Aged Care Act to guide us in this space. Noting that not only staff requiring screening on entry, but also visitors.

See Draft Standard 4 The Environment – 4.2, pg 26: https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/guidance-material-for-the-strengthened-aged-care-quality-standards-standard-4.pdf

The Actions and associated activities provide a guide to the expectations of screening and vaccination/immunisation for staff, older persons and visitors.

Each organisation/home is required to develop their own process for screening and collection of data/information – this is due to the diversity of homes.

During COVID-19 temperature checks were undertaken, now post pandemic there are higher levels of community immunity – we see cases without temperature and some times without symptoms. This is the same for other RTI, especially in older persons where temperatures do not present, but they are positive to the pathogen. As a result of this, temperature taking alone is not a reliable source to determine whether someone is well or unwell – we look to collaborative symptom screening. McGeers/Stone Infection Criteria is a good tool to use for this.

Hope this helps

Carrie

• This reply was modified 1 week ago by Carrie Spinks.
• This reply was modified 1 week ago by Carrie Spinks.

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