DOH Issues Annual Guidance on Influenza Surveillance and Reporting Requirements
On Sept. 26th, the Department of Health (DOH) issued its annual influenza guidance, which goes through reporting requirements for various providers. This is essentially a reminder of the reporting and regulatory guidance that providers have had to follow for some time.
Members are encouraged to review the guidance, but are reminded that nursing homes, adult care facilities (ACFs), and home care providers must report to the local health department:
- Suspected lack of response to antiviral therapy;
- Suspected or confirmed influenza-associated deaths in children aged <18 years; and
- Laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza.
Nursing homes must also report all confirmed or suspected health care facility-associated influenza outbreaks to the DOH Bureau of Healthcare Associated Infections (BHAI) via the Nosocomial Outbreak Reporting Application (NORA).
Hospitals report weekly to the Department, which populates the general influenza surveillance data that is available publicly.
In addition, the directive reminds providers that nursing homes and home care providers (including Assisted Living Program (ALP) home care providers) must also follow the “flu mask regulation,” which:
- requires certain personnel to wear a face mask if not vaccinated for influenza during the time that the Commissioner declares influenza prevalent; and
- requires the submission of a report regarding vaccination of staff, which is typically due in May.
The guidance also provides information and resources on the flu.
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828