Topic Collection: COVID-19 At-Risk Individuals Resources

This webpage summarizes clinical care considerations for patient populations with specific needs. Categories include: cancer, HIV, geriatrics, immunocompromised, solid organ transplant, critical care and emergency medicine, pediatrics, and pregnant/lactating.

The HHS emPOWER Map provides monthly de-identified totals of Medicare claims submitted for one or more of the fourteen types of life-maintaining or saving electricity-dependent durable medical and assistive equipment (DME) and certain implanted electricity-dependent cardiac devices, at the national, state, territory, county, and ZIP Code levels. Users have the ability to create unique aggregations by geography and export the data, as well as the ability to access historical HHS emPOWER Map datasets for further analysis. When combined with real-time severe weather and hazard maps, the HHS emPOWER Map gives communities the power to anticipate, plan for, and address the needs of this population prior to, during, and after an incident, emergency, or disaster.

This document highlights the disproportionate effect COVID-19 has had on African American, Latinx, and Native American populations and other underserved communities. The authors recommend five actions in response: improve access to healthcare coverage and healthcare services; ensure the collection of COVID-19 data by race, ethnicity, and disability by zip code; provide access to affordable COVID-19 testing, prevention, care, and treatment; protect frontline workers; and address social and economic determinants of health.

This social media outreach toolkit contains graphics and public service announcements in these Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander languages: Chamorro, Tongan, Samoan, Marshallese and Hawaiian.

This fact sheet outlines how PRAPARE SDOH domains may be associated with individuals’ risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.

This webpage includes various resources for vaccine providers working with refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates.

This three-page document is a handout for patients, which provides information on how to use a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels at home and a log sheet for tracking 02 levels. Translations in additional languages can be found on the COVID-19 Provider Page (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-providers.page) under the “Pulse Oximeter Program” tab.

This guidance document was developed for healthcare providers and includes information on the use of home pulse oximeters. It is aimed at facilitating enhanced monitoring of patients at home who are at higher risk for moderate to severe COVID-19 illness.

This online tool allows individuals to answer a series of questions to check their risk for COVID-19. Based on responses, the tool classifies someone as low, intermediate, or high risk and directs them to additional information based on that risk level.

This resource page provides information for community-based organizations (CBOs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Resources focus on equipping CBOs to return to work, supporting clients and family caregiving networks, bringing innovation to CBO service, and improving the integration of CBOs.

This toolkit provides numerous resources specific to Region 3 (DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV), for state and local agencies serving vulnerable populations.

This webpage provides links to federal programs that can help at-risk individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This fact sheet provides links to steps HHS has taken to address the disparate impact of COVID-19 on African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities.

This ASPR TRACIE document highlights resources for healthcare system emergency preparedness planners and correctional facility workers to use while preparing for and responding to infectious disease outbreaks that may occur in prisons or jails. Considerations and lessons learned from these materials are also gathered and provided as points for consideration in this document.

This webpage includes various resources for correctional health, including answers to frequently asked questions, information on personal protective equipment, downloadable signage, educational videos and webinars, weekly reports on COVID-19 in correctional facilities, and links to additional resources.

This tool informs planning for short-term severe weather/emergency shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes information on site preparation, developing operational protocols, managing guests with symptoms or who test positive, mitigation measures, environment and safety considerations, and other operational considerations. It also includes a supply checklist, a pre-operational checklist, and a sample bed map with air purifier placement.

This report describes reporting from 37 jurisdictions on COVID-19 cases and deaths among those incarcerated or detained and staff members of correctional and detention facilities. The authors emphasize the importance of early case identification, application of infection prevention measures, and adherence to mitigation guidance.

This report summarizes an assessment of 24 Louisiana correctional and detention facilities with reported COVID-19 cases using the COVID-19 Management Assessment and Response (CMAR) tool. The authors found that facility administrators were aware of and understood guidance related to COVID-19, and in some cases instituted measures beyond those currently recommended, but were challenged in implementing quarantine and social distancing measures in their available physical space.

This web page includes guidance documents for various congregate settings including foster care group home facilities, jails and detention facilities, and juvenile and behavior rehabilitation facilities. Documents provide elements to include in an infection prevention plan; a template for collecting partner contact information; communication tips for staff, residents, and visitors; and symptoms to watch for.

This ASPR TRACIE document highlights resources for healthcare system emergency preparedness planners and correctional facility workers to use while preparing for and responding to infectious disease outbreaks that may occur in prisons or jails. Considerations and lessons learned from these materials are also gathered and provided as points for consideration in this document.

This report discusses factors associated with 4,913 cases and 20 deaths reported among workers at 115 meat and poultry processing facilities in 19 states. The authors recommend elimination of hazards and exposure sources, use of engineering controls such as installation of physical barriers, enhancement of infection prevention practices such as hand hygiene and frequent cleaning and disinfection, changes to leave policies that incentivize working while ill, use of personal protective equipment, and worker training in relevant languages.

This document provides background information on COVID-19 and a checklist to prepare to care for and isolate infected workers, promote healthy habits, and address legal considerations.

This page includes various resources to protect agricultural worker health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Resources include an agricultural worksite checklist, employer training guide, educational videos, and infographics on worker safety, prevention, symptoms, and hygiene. Most of the resources are available in both English and Spanish.

This page compiles links to interim and updated guidance developed by the AAP on topics related to clinical care for infants, children, and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This guidance was developed to help pediatric practices determine when to test for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

The document provides guidance on following newborn screening recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This document provides guidance on the health care that should continue to be provided to children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This ASPR TRACIE webinar features speakers sharing guidance, resources, and lessons learned to help healthcare coalitions develop a pediatric surge annex.

ASPR TRACIE, in collaboration with ASPR’s Pediatric Centers of Excellence, collaborated on a webinar series focused on how the COVID-19 pandemic may affect children. Topics include impacts on child health and wellness, child emotional and social effects, the impact of COVID-19 on children with special healthcare needs, and how secondary/other disasters may affect children during the pandemic.

The first webinar in this series focuses on child health and wellness. Panelists discuss resumption of routine care, missed immunizations, lead poisoning screening, sleep issues, and child neglect and abuse.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE), in collaboration with the Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management (WRAP-EM), presents a speaker series focused on pediatric-specific lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This health advisory provides background information and a case definition for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

This algorithm depicts the clinical pathway for assessing children for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.

This algorithm depicts the clinical pathway for assessing children with COVID-19.

This resource page includes materials from a virtual table top exercise on pediatric disaster healthcare surge. Topics covered include educational presentations on regional burn surge and COVID-19, reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic experience, and breakout sessions on a 48 hour shelter in place scenario. Resources available for download include the exercise timeline, virtual exercise plan, and participant handbook.

This page is a compilation of COVID-19 related resources for hospital-based, pre-hospital, and community-based providers. Resources are categorized under Multisystem Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Children, pre-hospital and hospital preparedness, family readiness, school and childcare, personal protective equipment and essential skills, and mental and behavioral health. The page is updated as new resources become available.

This report describes 570 suspected cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) reported to the CDC by state and local health departments as of July 29, 2020. The authors used latent class analysis to divide cases into three classes based on different illness manifestations.

This webinar is part of the National COVID-19 Clinical Rounds hosted by ASPR, Project ECHO, NETEC, and other public-private partners. This special session focused on pediatric clinical care and featured presentations from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta/Emory University and South Thames Retrieval Service/Evelina London.

Pediatric healthcare providers face stunning array of challenges as they work to protect their patients from COVID-19 and treat children and adolescents who have been infected with the virus. Many children have returned to the classroom across the country, and seasonal influenza may further complicate care for pediatric COVID-19 patients. Healthcare leaders and clinicians can use the resources on this page to stay up-to-date on the latest information about the pandemic and plan to protect pediatric patient health.

These two tip sheets can help caregivers oversee the physical and psychosocial recovery processes for children diagnosed with COVID-19. The resources can be downloaded and customized by individual healthcare providers/facilities.

This guidance document includes a case definition and clinical management information related to a rare syndrome first identified in pediatric COVID-19 patients by clinicians in Great Britain.

This blog post highlights key themes from two webcasts on preparing adult clinicians to treat pediatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Themes included delineation between children and adults, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, similarities and differences of care methods, and opportunities for parent support. The blog includes links to recordings of both webcasts as well as SCCM's Pediatric Fundamental Critical Care Support course.

This toolkit contains resources to help clinicians boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake of vaccines. It includes informational content, posters and flyers, social media messaging, and videos to inform patient education efforts.

This resource provides responses to frequently asked questions as it pertains to optimizing obstetric care in the context during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Speakers in this webinar provided an overview of the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant; the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health's Office on Women's Health; the HHS Maternal-Child Health Emergency Planning Toolkit; the COVID-19 Pandemic as Viewed from the Lens of a County Public Health Nurse; and Addressing Maternal and Child Health Disparities When Planning for Emergencies.

This guidance document provides recommendations for ultrasound practices as it pertains to COVID-19.

This document includes an algorithm that can assist healthcare practitioners in evaluating and treating pregnant persons with known exposure and/or those with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (persons under investigation).

This patient safety primer provides background information on the increased risks to older adults infected by COVID-19. It identifies patient safety problems associated with infection control and prevention, transitions of care, telehealth and telemedicine, and federal guidance and highlights tools and resources for nursing homes.

This webpage provides information for older adults and their caregivers about COVID-19 and how to ease isolation while practicing social distancing

The HHS ASPR Addressing the Needs of Older Adults in Disasters Web-Based Training is designed to improve public health and emergency medical responders’ capability to address the access and functional needs of community-dwelling older adults in common disaster situations, including infectious disease outbreaks.

This document outlines steps to limit exposure of older adults to COVID-19, reduce hospitalizations, and increase the rate of safe hospital discharges focused on community, emergency department, hospital, and post-acute and long-term care goals.

This report offers six overarching recommendations for support teams to aid COVID-19 preparedness and response in long-term care facilities.

This page features numerous COVID-19 resources for older adults, their caregivers, and professionals in the aging field.

This page includes links to government and private sector COVID-19 resources for older adults, their caregivers, and healthcare providers.

This document answers frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccine approval, manufacturing, allocation, and distribution for state and local disability leaders.

This document provides best practices and technical requirements for video-based platforms and apps.

This web pages provides links to multiple resources for individuals with special needs, including a toolkit to support individuals with autism, an emergency picture communication aid and a plain language information sheet on COVID-19 (both resources available in English and Spanish), early prescription refill guidance, and other information.

This guidance document provides information on how to support individuals with access and functional needs as it pertains to: communication, maintaining health, remaining independent, transportation, and other services.

This tool is designed to support nurses, social workers, case managers, and others conducting effective discharge planning and care coordination for adults with disabilities who received care or treatment for COVID-19 illness in an acute care setting, are no longer COVID-19 positive, and require continuation or reconnection to supports and services.

The HHS/ASPR Access and Functional Needs (AFN) web-based training defines the concept and requirements for addressing people with disabilities , and provides tools and resources to help professionals incorporated related concepts into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities.

This interim guidance is intended for clinicians and provides special considerations for persons with HIV regarding COVID-19.

This guide offers steps that oncology practices can take to protect staff and patients while continuing to deliver care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The information and resources contained in this Toolkit, developed by nephrologists and nephrology team members, discuss general considerations across nephrology care settings, outpatient dialysis, dialysis in the acute setting, urgent start peritoneal dialysis, home dialysis, and the care of the transplant patient.

This page includes a checklist to assist outpatient dialysis facilities in their COVID-19 preparedness and response. The page also includes infection control guidance for outpatient hemodialysis facilities.

This article offers advice to nursing homes that need to send residents to other facilities for dialysis treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The author discusses cohorting dialysis patients, limiting tub use, surveillance frequency, transport protocols, symptom reporting, masking, adherence to care plans, and collaborating with dialysis providers.

This document analyzes the recent actions of the End Stage Renal Disease Community during the COVID-19 pandemic, around four key capabilities - situational assessment, operational communication, operational coordination, and logistics and supply chain management – and proposes corrective actions.

This document provides COVID-19 specific guidance to facilities providing outpatient hemodialysis.

This ASPR TRACIE TA response includes guidance resources related to COVID-19 for homeless shelters. It also provides information on states that have opened designated shelters for people experiencing homelessness who have tested positive for COVID-19.

This plan includes an algorithm for triage, intervention, and management of clients at isolation sites; triage interview questions and immediate intervention steps; and information on the use of telemedicine and telepsychiatry to manage behavioral health and medical needs. The plan applies to supportive housing providers, managed care organizations, health centers, and case management services.

This web page provides links to multiple resources specifically geared towards individuals experiencing homelessness and COVID-19.

This issue brief identifies eight critical actions along with strategies and guidance to accomplish them to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among those experiencing homelessness.

This issue brief outlines considerations for communities providing respite care to people experiencing homelessness to promote infection prevention or offer a safe place while waiting for COVID-19 test results or recovering from illness. The document includes links to guides, protocols, and handbooks used in some communities.

This document includes a checklist for homeless shelters to consider when planning for and responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in homeless shelters.

This web page includes resources to support those experiencing homelessness, including guidance for homeless service providers, frequently asked questions, cleaning and disinfection information, planning guidance, hand washing posters, and street outreach guidelines.

This memo sent to homeless assistance providers emphasizes steps to take to prevent disease spread among clients and staff. It also provides an overview of Project Roomkey, the state’s collaborative effort to ensure access to shelter and medical care for people experiencing homelessness who test positive for COVID-19, have been exposed, or are asymptomatic but at high risk of severe illness.

This report discusses a COVID-19 outbreak in three affiliated homeless shelters. The authors recommend that homeless shelters with confirmed cases of COVID-19 initiate immediate and repeated testing of all staff and residents to identify additional cases, enhanced surveillance, and isolation of confirmed cases.

This interim guidance document was developed to support response planning by homeless service providers, including overnight emergency shelters, day shelters, and meal service providers.

This toolkit assists community health centers and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-assisted housing and homeless programs interested in partnering to provide public and low-income housing residents and people experiencing homelessness with COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and health care.

This webpage includes links to interim guidance and other helpful information for people experiencing homelessness and those who serve them.

This framework identifies strategies and activities related to unsheltered people, shelter, housing, diversion and prevention, and strengthening systems for the future for communities to address through COVID-19 response and recovery funding. Please check here to confirm the most recent version: http://housingequityframework.org/.

This guidance document was developed to assist homeless shelter facilities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

This ASPR TRACIE resource lists challenges faced by rural areas specific to COVID-19. The challenges are grouped into two main categories: those specific to healthcare facilities, and those related to at-risk populations who reside in rural areas.

This quick sheet lists strategies for overcoming challenges faced by rural areas specific to COVID-19. The challenges are grouped into two main categories: those specific to healthcare facilities, and those related to at-risk populations who reside in rural areas.

In rural areas, home care and hospice often go hand in hand. Sue Heitkamp, RN, BSN, President, and Joelle Goldade, RN, BSN, CHPN, COS-C, HCS-D, Director of Clinical Operations (both of CHI Health at Home), shared how they carried out these important services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rural Surge Readiness Team/Federal COVID-19 Healthcare Resilience Working Group created this web portal to provide the current and key resources for rural healthcare systems preparing for and responding to a COVID-19 surge. The page includes links to resources by audience and topic.