NHCC TRAINING MODULE
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
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what actions are being implemented by nhcc?
NHCC has already started taking steps to prevent the introduction of illness, while also developing an agency response plan for an outbreak of COVID-19 in our community, as well as the potential for an outbreak at one of our facilities.
The safety and health of our community is of the highest priority for NHCC. Therefore, we have initiated several steps to mitigate the potential for infection, and we will be taking additional precautionary steps as part of our strategy to protect patients, staff, visitors and vendors.
Your cooperation is greatly appreciated!
Some of the steps already taken include:
stocking supplies (as available) in the case of an adverse event;
requesting that referring agencies exercise due diligence before sending a patient from the west side of the state;
coordinating with referring agencies to provide private transportation rather than the bus, whenever possible;
purchasing additional weeks of food reserves for both Isabella House and Sun Ray Court;
developing protocols and training for prevention and sanitation;
restricting staff from inter-site visits;
cancelling any unnecessary activities or events;
utilizing telehealth for individuals in residential care, when feasible and appropriate;
providing transportation to any outside appointments for patients in residential care, to avoid using the bus system;
utilizing conference calls to conduct meetings, when feasible;
providing daily reminders to everyone about frequent hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
With your health and safety in mind and in accordance with our current strategy, some additional steps will include:
taking each individual’s temperature upon arrival at an NHCC residential facility (staff, patients, visitors, vendors, etc.), as supplies become available;
isolating any symptomatic patient already in NHCC residential care;
requiring any individual with a temperature at or above 100.4 degrees to not enter or to leave the facility (and provide them with info for medical consult);
requiring any individual with signs of respiratory illness (persistent and/or unusual cough, shortness of breath, etc.) to not enter or to leave the facility;
asking all staff to self-monitor at home for fever and to call-in if they are showing signs of illness;
printing and placing appropriate posters at each facility;
establishing site-specific action plans which clearly describe how to respond in the case of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 at one of our facilities;