The goal of this information collection is to 1) capture the daily, aggregate impact of COVID-19 on healthcare facilities, and 2) monitor medical capacity to respond at local, state, and national levels. This information will be used to inform the overall real-time COVID-19 response efforts and possible resource allocation, and enable state and local health departments to gain immediate access to the COVID-19 data for hospitals within their jurisdiction. Information collection for long term care facilities are being added to this request. This Change Request will add nine data elements to the Patient Impact and Hospital Capacity form and will add TeleTracking to the NHSN collection at the request the White House Coronavirus Task Force in order to strengthen COVID-19 response efforts.
I have determined that the information must be collected prior to the expiration of time period established under Part 1320, and that this information is essential to CDCâs ability, as well as that of state and local health departments, to effectively address the national public health crisis caused by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). As rates of infection and resulting deaths continue to rise across the nation, healthcare facilities and public health departments are facing significant strain on patient care and infection prevention efforts. NHSN plans to introduce a new surveillance module that will enable hospitals to report daily COVID-19 patient counts to NHSN, and NHSN in turn will enable state and local health departments to gain immediate access to the COVID-19 data for hospitals in their jurisdiction. COVID-19 data submitted to NHSN also will be used immediately by CDCâs emergency COVID-19 response. NHSNâs role as a shared platform for healthcare-associated infection surveillance provides a valuable foundation for COVID-19 surveillance. The COVID-19 modules can additionally be adapted for future outbreaks of COVID or other infectious diseases. A large majority of the nationâs hospitals already participate in NHSN, and infection preventionists (IPs) in those hospitals use NHSN for surveillance and reporting of healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance.
CDC cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures due to the public harm that could escalate if routine processing of this request is required. CDC requests authorization to use information collection instruments in the existing NHSN web-based application for 180 days to enable immediate CDC and public health departments with immediate access to COVID-19 patient impact data.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
TeleTracking (TT) - U.S. Healthcare COVID-19 Portal