Hello folks, I am looking to see if anyone has state guidance that they feel really covered the bases and helped them through the past few months. Our state did not step up and provide very good detailed guidance for behavioral health. In Maine we have largely been making it up ourselves and adapting guidance from the Long Term Care facilities and nursing homes. We know though that they do not truly cover the variety of situations and differneces in staffing that occur in our facilities.
We have been discussing among ourselves along the way, but really we find that in our different agenies there are variations in protocols for client and employee testing, masking, visitors, community outings, working in the community, etc. Maine has been fairly safe as we have had some of the lowest spread in the nation, but after a summer of visitors and now as we are heading back inside with fall and winter coming, we are feeling a real need for clear standards and guidance. We are also hearing from some of the insurers that they will be writing exclusions for covid related liability.
Do any of you have a good set of guidelines and protocols from your state leadership you feel covers your settings well? Any intel would be appreciated.
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Malory Shaughnessy
Executive Director
Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services
Augusta ME
207-621-8118
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