RSC Monthly Bulletin April 2020

 

 

RSC Monthly Bulletin

 

April 2020

 

 

 

Updates & Reminders about … COVID-19, what else is there to talk about?!?

• What if a resident reports they have been exposed to COVID-19?
• First, take a deep breath! 
• Ask the resident when they were exposed and if they are currently experiencing any symptoms.  Ask them why they believe they were exposed.  Many residents are coming to us reporting exposure because they were in a grocery store where a friend's neighbor was and that neighbor will be getting tested.
• Ask the resident to self-isolate and contact their physician with their concerns.  The physician will determine the length of time that the resident should self-isolate based on the information provided. 
• At this point, you do not need to share concerns with staff.  You can email Charlie, Marlene and I will a "heads-up" but there is no need to share a resident's information with site staff at this point.  Remember, even during this crisis, confidentiality is key. 
• If a resident reports back to you that a physician encouraged self-isolation for a specific period of time (10 days, 14 days, etc.), you can report to your administrator that "Unit ### is self-isolating due to possible exposure to COVID-19."  Please CC your team lead and myself.  There is no need to share the details of the exposure. 
• If that resident begins to experience symptoms and is tested him/herself... we take a different route.
• What if a resident reports they are experiencing symptoms and are being tested for COVID-19?
• First, take a deep breath (again!)
• Remind the resident of the importance of self-quarantining.
• Ask the resident when they are getting tested and request that they follow-up with you regarding the results. 
• You should email Charlie, Marlene and I letting us know that Unit ### is being tested for COVID-19 and is or is not self-quarantining appropriately. 
• We will not be sharing the act of testing with the administrators at this time.  If the test is negative, you have divulged medical information to site staff unnecessarily. 
• You can report to your administrator that "Unit ### is self-quarantining due to concerns with COVID-19.  I will follow-up with the resident and their physician as necessary and will report back as needed."  CC your team lead and myself. 
• If there is a positive diagnosis...
• What if a resident reports they tested positive for COVID-19?!?
• First, you guessed it, take a deep breath.
• Determine the following:
• Is the resident in the unit?  In the hospital?  At a short term care facility?
• When will they return?
• When was the resident tested? 
• When did they receive the diagnosis? 
• Who informed them of the diagnosis?
• Who is informing us of the diagnosis?
• If we are being told a resident is positive by anyone other than the Department of Health or a physician or the resident themselves, we will need to follow-up with the resident and/or physician.   
• Will they be self-quarantining? 
• Remind them of the importance of self-quarantine.  
• We want to know either from the resident or from the physician how long they should be self-quarantining. 
• Have they had guests (including family and homecare providers)?  If yes, have them contact those parties and inform them... if a resident has a homecare provider and after they have informed their provider...
• Determine what homecare agencies provide service to that resident and follow-up with the agency.  We want to know if the aide travels to more than one unit on that site in case there is a positive diagnosis.  You do not need to share symptomology with the homecare office, the aide has probably already made them aware.  Simple ask if the aide that provides service to Resident X, provides service to anyone else in that building. 
• Was the resident self-isolating prior to the diagnosis? 
• This is important as it will determine whether or not common areas need to be sanitized. 
• After you have all of the necessary information, please email me, your administrator, and the Regional to inform them that "Unit ### has tested positive with COVID-19 on DATE per report by (resident, physician, DPH, etc.).  They are/are not on site.  They are/are not self-quarantining until DATE.  They were/were not self-isolating prior to the diagnosis.  (Here is where you would inform admins of places the resident frequented if they were not practicing self-isolation.  IE: The resident would often sit in the mail room just prior to this diagnosis.)  The resident does/does not have homecare.  Those homecare aides do/do not provide service to other units." 
• Again, we want to avoid providing unnecessary information regarding a residents health or communication from the physician.  Confidentiality remains key.
• If you have any questions or concerns or aren't sure what information you should provide or when, reach out to Charlie, Marlene or myself!  This entire experience is a learning one and we are doing our best to keep all of the residents and staff safe while also protecting our residents' privacy. 

 

 April Expense Reports!

• Please email me your April Expense Report for cell phone reimbursement.  I've attached it again HERE. 
• Reminder: you need to download this excel sheet in order to fill it out.  You won't be able to fill it out and save it just by clicking on it.  You must save it as a file on your own computer and then enter your information. 
• You must remember to fill out your Name, Address, Month of Report (April), and type your name in the bottom. 
• Please submit these by Thursday, April 30th. 

April RSC Reports:

• April's RSC Reports, Board Reports, and RARM Reports are Due on Tuesday, April 28th by 2:00pm.  This is change as a telework day is perfect for reports. 

NERSC 2020:

• Those of you with a Hotel Reservation, please contact the hotel to confirm that your reservation is canceled and that a refund has been issued.  Please ask where the refund was issued (site address or EHM address). 

Timesheets on ADP:

• I found it very helpful to have you all "approve" your timesheets prior to my review.  This lets me know that you have reviewed your timesheet and ensured any necessary time off has been entered appropriately.  I would like to continue this practice. 
• Please review your timesheets by 4:00pm Thursday of timesheet week (April 30th, May 14th, May 28th). 
• You do not need to enter any hours worked, if you have not taken Paid Time Off, your timesheet should appear blank. 
• Please click the "Approve" button on the top right corner of your timesheet. 
• You do not need to email me to inform me that it is done, ADP will tell me who has approved their timesheets. 

Looking forward to May 2020

• We will have a Zoom RSC Meeting on Tuesday, May 19th from 9:00am to 12:00pm.  Due to popular request, we will be joining Zoom WITH cameras (so come dressed to impress!).  We will also be switching Zoom links at around 10:30 for a presentation from Borrow My Glasses on Communication with the Elderly.  I will send the link in the beginning of May.
• Monday, May 25th will be a Holiday!

I wish you all a very nice weekend!  I think it should be sunny at some point?

 

Stay Safe and Wash Your Hands!

Christine