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Coronaviruses

VA Approves Clinical Staffing Support Teams for New Jersey's Nursing Homes

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) secured critical assistance for New Jersey's nursing homes, which are battling thousands of coronavirus cases and over 4,900 deaths. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved clinical staffing support teams to assist nursing homes in infection control procedures. These teams will include a Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Nursing Aides.

Key Takeaways:

  • The VA approved clinical staffing support teams to assist New Jersey's nursing homes in infection control procedures to combat coronavirus outbreaks.
  • Each team will consist of a Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Nursing Aides.
  • There are over 500 long-term care facilities in New Jersey combating COVID-19 outbreaks, with more than 26,000 coronavirus cases reported and over 4,900 deaths.
  • Congressman Josh Gottheimer led a bipartisan group of New Jersey's Congressional delegation to ask the VA why the VA had denied New Jersey's request for additional medical personnel while other states with fewer coronavirus cases received support.
  • The VA had provided up to 15 teams to assist Florida's nursing homes, which has less than a third of New Jersey's coronavirus caseload.
  • Congressman Gottheimer introduced bipartisan legislation, the Nursing Home Pandemic Protection Act of 2020, to require nursing homes to report communicable diseases and have a crisis plan in place to manage an outbreak.
  • The legislation also requires facilities to have a stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand.

Statistics:

  • Over 500 long-term care facilities in New Jersey combating COVID-19 outbreaks.
  • More than 26,000 coronavirus cases reported in these facilities.
  • Over 4,900 deaths in New Jersey's nursing homes.
  • VA provided up to 15 teams to assist Florida's nursing homes before approving teams for New Jersey.
  • Florida has less than a third of New Jersey's coronavirus caseload.

Sources:

  • Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5)
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • The Nursing Home Pandemic Protection Act of 2020 (bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Gottheimer and Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4))
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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