In my role as CEO I feel it is vital that our clients, our caregiving family and our communities are fully aware of what we are doing to ensure we can continue to provide exceptional care services to our clients safely in the home. Coronavirus has created one of the most challenging healthcare environments of recent times. That said, our pro-active approach from the get-go coupled with our exceptional clinical expertise and amazing caregiving family means we are ready and able to answer the call of duty.
As a leader on the home care landscape, I wanted to take a few moments too remind ourselves what a privilege it is to be able to serve our communities and make a real difference each day. Just this afternoon, the federal government acknowledged “that those who work in the healthcare services industry are a critical part of our country’s infrastructure and that we have a special responsibility to maintain normal working schedules”. Our caregiving family is definitely up to the task at hand.
Our teams are working behind the scenes to continue to manage and facilitate our business while also strictly following CDC guidelines to maintain a responsible work environment. We have instituted a variety of innovative measures including virtual assessments for our nurses to help interact safely clients and caregivers and a cohesive, real-time communications strategy. In addition, our office teams can provide critical support services to our field clinicians and caregivers to ensure core functions such as payroll support and scheduling services remain uninterrupted. We are experiencing a surge of new caregivers who want to join the cause.
The most effective way you can help your loved one is to stay home and limit the risk of contamination. Please utilize technology such as the eRSP Family portal, text, video chats and emails. Also, please remember to use universal healthcare precautions:
Proper Hand Hygiene, Resource: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/hand/handwashing.html:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together, ensuring to also soap the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Tip: Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette, Resource: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/resphygiene.htm:
The following measures to contain respiratory secretions are recommended for all individuals with signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Use in the nearest waste receptacle to dispose of the tissue after use.
- If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
- Perform hand hygiene (e.g., hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic handwash) after having contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials.
Care Advantage and its Family of Companies will continue to operate as business as usual while also staying focused on compassionate client care, let us take it from here.
