(a) "Disease outbreak" has the meaning given that term in ORS 431A.005.

(b) "Facility" means:

(A) A long term care facility, as defined in ORS 442.015;

(B) A conversion facility, as defined in ORS 443.400; and

(C) A residential care facility, as defined in ORS 443.400, including a residential care facility with a memory care endorsement.

(2) An administrator of a facility and the employees of the facility, as specified by the Department of Human Services by rule, must receive training in recognizing disease outbreaks and infection control at the time of hiring, unless the administrator or the employee has received the training at another facility within the 24-month period prior to the time of hiring, and annually as part of, and not in addition to, the administrator or employee’s continuing education requirements.

(3) The department, in consultation with the Oregon Health Authority, shall prescribe by rule the requirements for the training, which must include at least the following:

(a) How to properly prevent and contain disease outbreaks based on the current best evidence in the field of infection and disease outbreak identification, prevention and control; and

(b) The responsibility of staff members to report disease outbreaks under ORS 433.004.

(4) The training may be provided in person, in writing, by webinar or by other electronic means. The department shall make online trainings available.

(5)(a) A facility must establish and maintain infection prevention and control protocols designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases.

(b) A facility must designate an individual to be responsible for carrying out the infection prevention and control protocols and to serve as the primary point of contact for the department regarding disease outbreaks. The individual must:

(A) Be qualified by education, training and experience or certification; and

(B) Complete specialized training in infection prevention and control protocols within three months of being designated under this paragraph, unless the designee has received the specialized training within the 24-month period prior to the time of the designation.

(6) Upon hiring a new staff member, a facility shall provide to the staff member information about the rights and responsibility of facility staff members to report disease outbreaks under ORS 433.004 and the safeguards for staff members who report disease outbreaks.

(7) The department, in coordination with the authority, shall:

(a) Communicate regularly with facility administrators to recommend best practices and protocols for preventing and responding to disease outbreaks and provide contacts for local public health authorities; and

(b) Provide notification to the facilities in a community where there is an elevated risk of an infectious disease outbreak and the residents and staff may be at risk of exposure to the disease outbreak. [2019 c.592 §1]

Note: 443.012 applies to the issuance or renewal of a license for a long term care facility, conversion facility or residential care facility on or after January 1, 2021. See section 10, chapter 592, Oregon Laws 2019.

Note: See note under 443.001.