Dear Guerin Woods Families and Friends:
We have no new cases of COVID-19! As you have seen in recent emails, in addition to providing Guerin Woods updates I am trying to share information that I am hopeful is both informative and helpful. Today, I have a bit more information regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and the climbing positivity rates in the local area.
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) recently issued its COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. You can find this 75-page document at https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/files/Indiana%20COVID-19%20Vaccination%20Plan_%20Interim%20Draft.pdf. Below is a short summary of ISDH's phased plan.
Phase 1: Healthcare workforce and those who are at the most risk of morbidity and mortality. In the scenario that Indiana does not receive sufficient vaccine to vaccinate all included in the population of focus, ISDOH has developed a per-county percentage-based metric to ensure equitable and equal distribution across Indiana.
Phase 1-A: Healthcare infrastructure & treatment of disease. This group includes all paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious material. Healthcare settings include, but are not limited to: hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient facilities, home health care settings, pharmacies, dialysis centers, emergency medical services, frontline public health interventions, and COVID-19 diagnostic and immunization teams.
Phase 1-A will utilize hospitals that are prepared to administer vaccine to all healthcare personnel. Indiana hospitals were surveyed regarding their readiness to provide vaccine to healthcare personnel, including those not associated with their facility.
Phase 1-B: Protect the vulnerable. Individuals who are at particular risk of morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 disease based on the latest evidence-based criteria.
Phases 1-B will utilize local health departments (LHDs) and partnerships with commercial pharmacies.
Phase 2: Mitigate spread. Individuals who are at elevated risk of transmission of the disease because of working or living circumstances. This includes persons living in correctional facilities, group homes or shelters, and individuals who's in-person work is essential, required, and places them in settings where social distancing is not possible and transmission risk is high.
Phases 2 will utilize local health departments (LHDs), partnerships with commercial pharmacies, and the Indiana National Guard.
Phase 3: General public vaccination. ISDH has provided a COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Template to the 94 LHDs. ISDH will augment the local response by deployment of vaccination strike teams embedded in its 10 district mobile response units throughout the State, and is piloting a vaccination partnership with its EMS and paramedicine providers. The Indiana National Guard will also be engaged in phase 3.
As I learn more about ISDH's plan, I will let you know.
With regard to positivity rates, Floyd, Clark, Harrison, and Washington Counties are now at 13.7%, 13.4%, 12.5%, and 20.6%, respectively. There are no Indiana counties at less than 5%. Statewide hospital admissions and census numbers have grown from 595 in June to 1461 on Monday. These numbers paint a very clear picture, one of caution. Please, please keep you families and friends safe. Mask up, keep your hands clean, and practice social distancing!
- Guerin Woods COVID-19 Statistics
Total # of Elder Cases | New Elder Cases in Last 24 Hrs | Elder Deaths in Last 24 Hrs | Instances of 3 or More Elders/Staff w/ New Onset ofRespiratory Symptoms w/in 72 hours of Each Other |
6* | 0 | 0 | 0 |
COVID-19 positive test dates: 8/5/20 (1), 10/14/20 (1), 10/21/20 (1), 10/23/20 (2), 10/29/20 (1)
- Examples of Facility Infection Mitigation/Prevention/Planning Measures
Limited visitation |
Decontamination of all personal items delivered by elder families and friends |
Staff Competency Reinforcement/Training: Infection Control; COVID-19; Proper PPE Use; Handwashing; Social Distancing, etc. |
Daily staff reminders to self-monitor for fever and symptoms of COVID-19 and to stay home if unwell |
Cohorting of staff (among Villas) |
Exclusion of non-essential staff |
Staff use of masks and goggles/face shields: 100% of the time in Villas |
Increased cleaning frequency & use of COVID-19/EPA approved sanitizing solutions for equipment, frequently touched surfaces and common areas |
Placement of alcohol-based hand sanitizer throughout the Villas and in elders' rooms |
Placement of tissues and trash cans in elder's rooms and in common areas for respiratory hygiene, cough etiquette, and source control |
Elder social distancing and use of masks (for those able) when in common areas |
Transition to telephonic/video meetings whenever possible, e.g., Care Plan Meetings |
Use of telehealth when appropriate |
Creation and use of signage to remind elders and staff re PPE usage, cough etiquette, social distancing, handwashing |
Creation of signage in anticipation of positive COVID-19 cases re proper use of PPE, precautions, etc. |
Adoption of pharmacy policies & practices that ensure availability of all necessary medications |
Pre-shift health assessment/screening of every staff member, including all CDC-defined COVID-19 symptoms |
Assessment of elders for CDC-defined COVID-19 symptoms every shift |
Cancellation of all non-essential medical appointments, e.g., routine eye exams |
Acquisition of additional/excess supplies, e.g., ABHS, soap, paper towels, sanitizing solutions, PPE, oxygen concentrators |
Conversion of separate on-site facility to staff sleeping quarters, including procurement of beds, linens, etc. |
Conversion of separate on-site facility to accommodate COVID-19 positive elders, including but not limited to new flooring, rental of beds, use of donated storage and office furniture, and waiver application |
Conversion of separate on-site facility to accommodate COVID-19 supplies, including preparation of individual kits for ease of use |
Staging of COVID-19 materials in anticipation of providing immediate response |
Preparation for ability to teach CNA/PCA courses on-site, including but not limited to staff training, licensure, procurement of necessary course materials, etc., in anticipation of potential staffing shortages |
Daily meetings among executive and senior clinical staff re newest state and federal COVID-19 regulations & guidance (and changes thereto), associated changes to policies/procedures, education/training, facility changes, etc. |
Extensive contingency planning, including adoption of new policies & procedures (and frequent amendment of same as guidelines from federal and state public health authorities change) |
Frequent coordination with local and state public health and emergency response authorities |
Guerin Woods Contacts
Contact (Title) | Steve Brian (Administrator) | Susan Gernert (President & CEO) |
Cell Phone | 812-399-9046 | 502-830-4336 |
Email |
Guerin Woods Current Visitation Policy.
- Indoor & Outdoor Visitation - Until further notice, Indoor and Outdoor Visitation is suspended.
- Compassionate Care Visitation - Compassionate Care Indoor Visitation is limited primarily to end-of-life situations. Guerin Woods will also consider Compassionate Care visitation for elders who (a) meet objective, clinical criteria indicating a meaningful decline in their psychosocial wellbeing and (b) have not or cannot benefit from other forms of visitation. Guerin Woods will proactively contact the POAs of elders who meet these criteria. If you would like to contact us regarding the possibility of compassionate care visitation, you are welcome to do so by sending an email to guerinwoodsvisitations@pssmsi.org. Please know that we will assess any such request on a case-by-case basis, based on a set of objective criteria. Those who are approved will be instructed – as appropriate – regarding visitation scheduling, duration, frequency, location, and other restrictions, such as training, COVID-19 testing, etc.
- Facilitated Phone Calls & Video Chats - Please call your elder's Villa on the day you wish to have your call or video chat to confirm the availability of staff. Please know that our staff remain very busy throughout the day, and they may ask that you be flexible regarding the time and length of your call or video chat. Individual CNAs cannot commit to staff availability other than their own because they do not know what the demands may or may not be on another shift or when they are not working.
- Closed Window Visits - Please continue your closed window visits! Risk-free. Mask-free. ...and no social distancing required!
- Testing & Transfers: Guerin Woods is following the guidance and directives of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), and Floyd County Health Department regarding COVID-19 testing. If an elder were to test positive for COVID-19 and Guerin Woods was unable to provide the necessary care, the elder would be transferred to a hospital or other appropriate facility.
- General Information: For more information about COVID-19, please refer to: https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/2400.htm; https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. You can also address general questions about COVID-19 to the ISDH COVID-19 Call Center, available 24/7, at 877-826-0011.
- Indiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman: The Ombudsman is NOT a representative of the facility, ISDH, or any other organization. However, we do want to provide accurate information to ensure families are comfortable that their loved ones are as safe as possible and are able to make informed decisions.
Physical Address | Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman 402 West Washington Street, Room W451 Post Office Box 7083, MS 27 Indianapolis, Indiana 46207-7083 |
Phone Number | 800-622-4484 or 317-232-7134 |
Fax Number | 317-972-3285 |
Email | |
Website |
Susan
Susan Gernert
President & CEO
Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries, Inc.
Guerin, Inc.
The Meadows of Guerin, Inc.
502-830-4336 (cell)
8037 Unruh Drive
Georgetown, Indiana 47122
guerininc.org
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