COVID-19

 

Updated: 3/30/2020

Hospice of San Joaquin Patients, Family and Caregivers,                            

As we here in the U.S., along with the rest of the world, continue our battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to keep you informed about what Hospice of San Joaquin is doing to keep you, your loved ones and our dedicated staff safe.

On February 28, 2020 we began mandated working from home for many of our office staff, in an effort to reduce the potential for exposure within our campus.  We also mandated our field staff, the staff that are out there taking care of our patients, to go directly from home to patient visits, and avoid the office.  This will decrease their potential exposure, which in turn decreases your risk of exposure.

All our office staff that are working on campus have been relocated as necessary, to ensure social distancing.  All agency in-person meetings and events have been postponed and/or cancelled.   No one can enter the agency’s buildings that has not been screened, which includes a temperature reading.   Necessary agency staff meetings and patient care conferences are continuing via a web-based platform.

Staff have been issued the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to utilize when necessary.  Our staff have had extensive education on the COVID 19 virus and proper use of PPE.

Digitally, we have created resources for you and the public to garner knowledge on the latest HSJ COVID-19 News & Announcements, and Tips on Coping with Grief & Self-Care during COVID-19 on our website: 

COVID-19 News & Announcements

Tips on Coping with Grief and Self-Care During COVID-19

Video: National Partnership for Hospice Innovation Resource Hotline 

As of March 30, 2020 there were 121 positive COVID 19 cases is San Joaquin County.  The safety of our staff, patients and the families and caregivers involved in their care, is paramount to us.  Our hospice patients are all at high risk from exposure to this virus. With that said, the nature of home visits from anyone on our team, unfortunately, puts the patient and family at risk for exposure, regardless of all the precautions we are exercising.

Each of our dedicated staff members see multiple patients every day.  Some patients in their own homes, some in nursing facilities.  At the end of each day, these staff return to their own home where most, if not all, have their own families to take care of and protect.  Given this cycle our staff endure daily, as the cases grow within the county, exposure of our staff becomes almost inevitable at some point.

In order to keep everyone as safe as humanly possible, your visits may be made via a phone call or a telehealth platform, if the resources are available.  We ask for your understanding, in the event that we need to reassign staff or change the type of visit you receive from our staff.  This is an extreme and unprecedented situation unfolding at this time.

Just as someone in your home may become ill, so might your hospice home health aide, nurse, chaplain, or social worker and/or their immediate family.  In that case our staff would be mandated to be off work for 14 days or longer, again, affecting scheduled visits. We are all in this together and Hospice of San Joaquin’s Mission remains the same.  “To ensure our patients are the focus of everything we do.”   

Sincerely,
Rebecca Burnett, CEO
Hospice of San Joaquin

Facility Protocols as of 4/1/2020

Update for all families.  All facilities are screening any visitors before allowing them into the facilities.  If you have a fever or any symptoms, recent exposure, you will not be allowed into the facilities.  If you are allowed in, you will have to wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay in the room of your family member/patient. 

Meadow Wood

• RN/LVN may visit as patients need.  Staff will be screened.  If cleared, staff must was hands and wear mask.  If they have been to another facility, please change scrubs
• MSW/Chaplains stop on site visits.  Okay to do telephone calls
• HHA stop all visits at this time
• Call families and update them on status and change in plan of care (done by Director of Home Care and CSOC on 3/14/2020)

Garden Oaks

• HHA are still welcome with the condition they be seen first or change in new scrubs.

Laurel Point

• Okay to resume HHA

Arbor Lodi

• RNs, LVNs, and HHAs are allowed to visit

Wagner Heights 

• RN/LVN are allowed  1 time visits (or if patient needs for prn or change in condition). Staff will be screened prior to entering.  Please use the side door between buildings
• MSW/Chaplains stop on site visits and do telephone calls (Unless extreme need arises)
• HHA visits are not allowed at this time
• RNCM to call their patient families and update them on change in plan of care.  Update patient charts and discontinue services. 

Winsor Hampton

• At this time, all medical personnel for Hospice of San Joaquin can come on site to see patients.  Staff will be screened and temperature will be taken.  If passed they can see the patients.  They ask that staff go to room only and not go around facility. Recommend to have one staff member in to see patients.

Prestige

• RN may visit every 14 days or if there is a change in condition.

GL Chateau

• RN will do 1 time weekly visits and can call call during the week to check on patients.
• HHA will cease visits at this time.
• MSW/Chaplain will cease in-person visits and revert to phone calls instead.
• RN will be screened at the door before entering and will be asked to make visits as short as possible.

Manteca Care and Rehab

• RN visit every 14 days or for change in condition.  Telephone call for monitoring in between and updates is fine.
• MSW/Chaplain visits to stop and may do telephone calls.
• HHA will cease visits at this time.

Grace Manor

• Okay to come see Hospice of San Joaquin patients as normal according to their plan of care.
• No HHA visits allowed at this time

Plymouth Square

• Hospice of San Joaquin okay to come in and see Hospice of San Joaquin patients as normal according to plan of care.
• Staff to be screened upon entry.

Gelzhen Guest Home

• Staff will be screened and temperature taken, wash hands, and if not at risk are allowed to enter facility
• Staff is to wear a mask

Sunny Place

• Hospice of San Joaquin staff can still come in to provide care
• Staff will be screened and are requesting we wear mask and gloves

Astoria Gardens

• Hospice of San Joaquin staff is still allowed to come inside but will be screened at the door and be asked to complete questionnaire before entering to see patients.
• HHA, MSW, and Chaplain will cease visits as of 3/20/20

Oaks on Inglewood

• Hospice of San Joaquin staff will still be allowed in but will be screened.
• Patients in the facility will be a case by case situation for staff depending on patient needs and setting the care plan with RNCM.

Rio Las Palmas

• Hospice of San Joaquin staff will still be allowed in.
• Visitors are allowed inside from 8AM - 5PM, encouraging residents to stay in their rooms.
• Hands must be sanitzed before entering the facility.

Commons Thorton

• RN and HHA visits resume as normal (limit to other Hospice of San Joaquin staff: chaplain and MSW are allowed in only as needed and then communicate with facility if they need to come).
• Everyone is to be checked in at the front door and vetted.

Commons Manteca/Union Ranch

• RN can visit up to once per week.
• HHA visits resume as normal.
• (Limit to other Hospice of San Joaquin staff: chaplain and MSW are allowed in only as needed and then communicate with facility if they need to come).

Wine Country

• Hospice of San Joaquin staff will be screened prior to entering and be asled to wear patient gown over their clothes (will be removed there after visiting the patient.)
• MSW and Chaplain visits are ceased an will only do phone calls
• HHA visits are allowed at this time

Clearwater

• Protocol is to call when visitors or RN is outside of building as they are keeping doors locked. It is okay for nursing visits, but will be sprayed down with alcohol water from neck down, body temperature will be taken, and mask and gloves will need to be worn. Question screening will also be done.

Oakmont at Brookside RCFE

• Protocol is to check-in at front desk to be vetted. Visitors will be signed in. You must sanitize, wear a mask and gloves. Please bring items in with you to sanitize.
• They also expect a care note to be filled out post-visit and turned in to the front desk or to the med tech if there are any medication issues addressed.

Stacie Chalet

• Sign-in at front desk in binder, go to med tech room and body temperature will be read and hands will be sanitized.

River Fountain

• Okay for nurses and HHAs to visit as scheduled, no other Hospice of San Joaquin staff is allowed in right now.

Fairmont

• Nurse visits are continued as scheduled, but NURSE ONLY for the next week and they will be vetted.
• No other Hospice of San Joaquin staff is allowed inside at least for this week.

Somerford

• Okay for nurses and HHAs to visit as scheduled.
• No other Hospice of San Joaquin staff is allowed inside right now.

Manteca Retirement

• Okay for nurses and HHAs to visit as scheduled.
• No other Hospice of San Joaquin staff is allowed inside right now.

Riverwood

• Everyone allowed to visit as scheduled, but will be screened when they arrive a facility.

Lincoln Manor

• Nurse can visit 1x/week and continue HHA.
• No other staff is allowed inside at this time.

RM Ugale Care Tracy

• Nurses are allowed visits every 14 days.
• No other Hospice of San Joaquin staff is allowed in at this time

Lodi Nursing and Rehab

• RN/LVN are allowed 1 time weekly visits or every 14 days (depending on patient needs)
• HHA, MSW, and Chaplain visits are not allowed at this time

Creekside

• RNs and Chaplains visits are allowed.
• HHA and MSW are not allowed in at this time

Yannica

• RNs, LVN, and HHA visits are allowed

GL Hypana

• RNs and LVNs visits are allowed
• HHA visits are not allowed at this time
• Assessment area is being setting up on the side of their building for staff and phsicians
• Telehealth or phone visits are highly encouraged

Good Samaritan

• All visitors will be screened before entry
• All Hospice of San Joaquin staff is allowed inside to visit

Remalona

• RN visits are allowed every 14 days
• No other Hospice of San Joaquin services are allowed at this time

LaSalette

• RN visits are allowed every 14 days.
• No other Hospice of San Joaquin services are allowed at this time

Tips:

Reduce your risk of Coronavirus infection (COVID-19):

                Clean hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub

                Cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or flexed elbow

                Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.

                Thoroughly cook meat and eggs               

                Avoid unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals

Protect yourself and others from getting sick: 

                Wash your hands after coughing and sneezing

                Wash your hands when caring for the sick

                Wash your hands before, during and after you prepare food

                Wash your hands before eating

                Wash your hands after toilet use

                Wash your hands when hands are visibly dirty

                Wash your hands after handling animals or animal waste

 

For any questions or concerns please feel free to call us at 209-957-3888.