Information for Hospitals & Healthcare Professionals

DSHS has compiled the following resources to assist hospitals and healthcare professionals in their planning and response to COVID-19.

Healthcare professionals can find additional guidance on COVID-19 preparedness, infection control, testing, clinical care, and other topics here:
CDC Guidance for Health Professionals

On this page:

• COVID-19 Vaccine
• Influenza & COVID-19
• Hospital Reporting Requirements
• Home Health Service Providers
• Resources for Nursing Homes & Long Term Care
• Postmortem Guidance
• COVID-19 Therapeutics
• Laboratory Testing

• COVID-19 Vaccine
  For the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines, see the Information for COVID-19 Vaccination Providers page.
• Influenza & COVID-19
  • Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) — United States, 2021–22 (CDC MMWR)
  • COCA Webinar: 2021-2022 Influenza Vaccination Recommendations and Guidance on Coadministration with COVID-19 Vaccines
  • CDC Flu FAQs: Administering Flu Vaccines during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Multiplex Assays for Detection of Influenza Viruses and SARS-CoV-2 (CDC)
  • Influenza Antiviral Medications: Summary for Clinicians (CDC)
  • Communicating the Benefits of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine during COVID-19 (IAC)
• Hospital Reporting Requirements
  On July 29, 2021, Gov. Abbott issued an Executive Order relating to continued daily reporting during the COVID-19 disaster. For more information, see the following:
  • COVID-19 Texas Hospital Reporting Requirements (PDF, V.3.0, updated 8/07/2020)
  • COVID-19 Hospital Bed Reporting Data Dictionary (PDF, V.3.0, updated 8/07/2020)
  • Texas Hospital Reporting Certification Letter from HHS
  • HHS COVID-19 Guidance for Hospital Reporting and FAQs
  • List of HHS and DSHS EEIs (PDF, V.3.0, updated 8/5/2021)
• Home Health Service Providers
  • DSHS COVID-19 Guidance for Public Health Home Service Providers (ENGLISH) (PDF, V.5.0, updated 8/15/2020)
  • DSHS COVID-19 Guidance for Public Health Home Service Providers (SPANISH) (PDF, V.5.0, updated 8/27/2020)
• Resources for Nursing Homes & Long Term Care Facilities
  • National Healthcare Safety Network and Long-Term Care COVID-19 Module Enrollment (PDF, V.1.0 released 11/25/2020)
  • Interim Guidance for Rapid Antigen Testing (CDC)
  • Considerations for Antigen Testing in Nursing Homes (CDC)
  • DSHS COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Line List Template (XLSX, V.1.0, released 4/10/2020)
  • DSHS COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Staff Symptom Monitoring Log (XLSX, V.1.0, released 4/10/2020)
  • Information about COVID-19 for Nursing Facilities/Long-term Care Facilities (HHSC)
• Postmortem Guidance
  • Collection and Submission of Postmortem Specimens (CDC)
• COVID-19 Therapeutics
  For the latest updates regarding therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19, see the Information for COVID-19 Therapeutics Providers page.
• Laboratory Testing
  • Guidance for Healthcare Workers about COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Testing (CDC)
  • Interim Guidance for Rapid Antigen Testing (CDC)
  • How to Report COVID-19 Laboratory Data (CDC)
  • Overview of Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (CDC)
  • Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons for COVID-19 (CDC)
  • DSHS Laboratory:
    • ALL specimens for COVID-19 testing require preapproval. Contact your Local Health Department or DSHS Public Health Region to ensure patient meets the criteria for testing and to obtain approval to test. Please DO NOT ship specimens prior to receiving this approval.
    • See the DSHS Laboratory Services site for details on specimen collection and shipping and updates from the DSHS Austin Laboratory.
  • COVID-19 and Newborn Screening: During this time of extraordinary challenge, the DSHS Newborn Screening (NBS) Program appreciates the dedication and commitment of healthcare providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for Texas newborns. Please visit the DSHS Laboratory's COVID-19 and Newborn Screening FAQs page for important information.

For disease reporting and/or local assistance, see the listing of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Local Health Entities.

This page is being updated as new information becomes available.