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

Garden Oaks

Laurel Point

Arbor Lodi

Wagner Heights 

Winsor Hampton

Prestige

GL Chateau

Manteca Care and Rehab

Grace Manor

Plymouth Square

Gelzhen Guest Home

Sunny Place

Astoria Gardens

Oaks on Inglewood

Rio Las Palmas

Commons Thorton

Commons Manteca/Union Ranch

Wine Country

Clearwater

Oakmont at Brookside RCFE

Stacie Chalet

River Fountain

Fairmont

Somerford

Manteca Retirement

Riverwood

Lincoln Manor

RM Ugale Care Tracy

Lodi Nursing and Rehab

Creekside

Yannica

GL Hypana

Good Samaritan

Remalona

LaSalette

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.