Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has designed a training program to help staff combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in nursing homes. CMS is urging healthcare professionals to take this free training.
The training includes multiple modules, with emphases on topics such as infection control, screening and surveillance, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, disinfection of the nursing home, cohorting and caring for individuals with dementia during a pandemic. CMS developed this training in consultation with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For anyone interested, the training is free to access on a public CMS website: instructions on how to create an account and take the training are available at qsep.cms.gov/welcome.aspx.
Here are the steps required to get a certificate for the Targeted COVID-19 Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff and Management.
Select "Sign up" for "Providers and Other Learners"
Tell Us Who You Are. Enter your Name and Email address. Select "Provider/Supplier" User Role from the drop-down list, select "Next" to continue registration.
Select "SNF/NF - Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Facilities" from the drop-down list under "Provider/Supplier Type".
Select "Facility Search". Enter your primary facility CCN, or facility name (first few characters), or zip code, or state and select "Search". A list of facilities matching your criteria will appear. Select your facility from the list or select "Search Again" if your facility is not listed. Verify your choice on the following screen and select "Next" to complete registration. You will receive the email confirmation. (You can select the name of any of the facilities that you work at.)
After confirmation, go to QSEP home page, select "Login" for "Providers and other Learners". Enter your email address to login to QSEP. https://qsep.cms.gov/welcome.aspx
Use either the search field or the alphabetical listing to locate the training. The training name is: CMS Targeted COVID-19 Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff
Select the "Launch" button on the far right side of the window beside the course listing.
The Training Menu page will be displayed, where you may begin the pre-test, training and post-test.
After completing the post-test, return to the Training Menu page and select the "Training Evaluation" link.
Answer the following Training Evaluation questions: What is your Role in the nursing home? Select Clinical Staff Were you hired at your current nursing home within the past two week? Select Yes or No Do you work at multiple CCNS? Select Yes or No. If yes, use the link to the Facility Search tool to select up to 4 additional facilities.
Answer the rest of the evaluation survey questions and select the "Submit Evaluation" button at the bottom of the survey.
Once the evaluation is submitted select "Click to View/Print Your Completion Certificate".
Once the certificate has been collected, upload the document into the app -> My Credentials -> Additional Credentials -> CMMS COVID-19 Training Certificate.
If you have any questions please use either the Get Help option in the app or send an email to shiftmedcreds@shiftmed.com.