To Our Team Members and Associates:
We want to inform you that we received confirmation on August 27th, 2020, that a part-time employee at Spring Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center had tested positive with COVID-19. Resident safety continues to be our top priority during this pandemic. Pierce County Public Health does not believe the person worked during their infectious period. We are doing everything we can to ensure we stop the spread of COVID-19 within our campus and our community. This includes staying in very close communication with the Pierce County Public Health Office and Wisconsin health officials to ensure we are taking all the appropriate steps. We will be conducting facility-wide testing in conjunction with Pierce County Public Health as a precaution on a to-be-determined date.
We are continuing to focus on the following priorities:
- In addition to universal face masking, which many of us have become accustomed to over the last few months, we will be instituting universal eye protection due to the increasing number of cases in our community. This is recommended by Pierce County Public Health to help prevent the spread and potentially mitigate any staffing crisis that can occur as a result of exposure.
- Restrict all visitors (except for compassionate care situations (for example, end of life)) per the instructions of the Pierce County Public Health Department, CDC guidelines, and Wisconsin Department of Health Services directives. We are working with all families to accommodate other avenues for visits, such as telephone or virtual visits. Many family members may have questions or concerns regarding their loved ones; please refer to their ROI prior to releasing any specific health information. We will be giving families weekly updates for at least the next few weeks regarding how COVID-19 is affecting our building.
- We will continue to actively screen all residents at least once per shift for fevers, changes in vital signs, and/or respiratory symptoms.
- Staff should be self-monitoring at home for any signs/symptoms that could possibly be associated with COVID-19. If symptoms are noted while at home staff should NOT come to work and should notify the Director of Nursing IMMEDIATELY for further evaluation. If a staff member is getting testing for COVID-19 for any reason, the Director of Nursing should be notified as soon as possible prior to or within 24 hours of testing. We will continue to actively screen all health care personnel (HCP) for fevers and respiratory symptoms before starting and throughout each shift.
- Residents who must leave the facility for medically necessary purposes (for example, residents receiving hemodialysis) should always wear a face mask while outside the facility. We will ensure that anyone they are with is also wearing a mask (for example, whoever may be transporting them).
- ALL new admissions and re-admissions will be placed in the Meadows hallway in the Highland neighborhood. They will be quarantined for 14 days upon admission or re-admission. These residents will be on contact droplet precautions (staff should additionally don a gown and gloves prior to entry of these rooms; surgical mask and eye protection should also be donned if not already being worn). Residents will be moved off of the Meadows hallway after 14 days with no signs/symptoms of COVID-19.
- Increased cleaning protocols and surveillance, especially related to infection control.
- Continuing education and updates regarding COVID-19 and infection control.
Please know that we are strictly adhering to direction from the Pierce County Public Health and Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
We know that during this pandemic, it continues to be a difficult time for everyone. We are here to answer your questions or follow-up with additional information. I also know that mental health continues to be an increasing concern and I want you to know that we are here to support you. If we can be of any assistance or you would like information on possible resources that may be available to you, please feel free to reach out to me at any time.
Lastly, I just want to thank each one of you for your dedication to our facility and our residents. You are appreciated! Each and every person is truly helping to make this world a better place.
Respectfully,
Ginnie Prechel, RN
Director of Nursing and Clinical Services