Purpose:

An Outbreak Plan has been implemented to facilitate reopening the facility with written policies and procedures in place for communication (virtual), staff strategies, communication with residents, staff and residents’ families, facility website, and testing of staff and residents.

Lessons Learned

· Educating staff and keeping them updated helped relieve anxiety.

· Not allowing staff to work at other facilities and offering them the same shifts/hours at Wiley helped keep COVID-19 out of our building.

· The importance of communication with other providers.

· The importance of monitoring PPE.

· The impact of decreased visitation as we witnessed residents decline due to isolation.

· How much the families appreciate the Zoom calls and emails. It has increased their trust in us. They would like calls to continue when COVID-19 is over.

· Benefit of educating families regarding state and federal guidelines and why we follow whichever guideline is more restrictive.

Communication

· Communication with residents, their families, representatives, and staff is done through Zoom calls, emails, texting, and Paycom to keep everyone updated on testing and results of testing. This will be done weekly.

· Residents and families will be notified by 5pm the next calendar day following the subsequent occurrence of each time a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified or whenever 3 or more residents or staff with new onset of respiratory symptoms occur within 72 hours of each other.

· Communication will also provide information on mitigating actions implemented by the facility to prevent or reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

· Wiley Nurses Station phone number (856-983-0445) can be used for urgent calls or complaints.

· The facility’s website will be updated at minimum on a weekly basis, to share the status of the facility and will include information on what is happening in the residents’ environment (such as food menus and scheduled activities). The facility reports facility data as required to NHSN COVID-19 module.

Visitation

· Wiley is open for visitation.  No appointment is necessary.  Both outdoor and indoor visitation space is available. The facility has implemented safety and infection prevention control measures as defined in guidance from NJDOH and CDC.

· Visitation can also be arranged by Skype and Facetime.  Please call our activities department @ 856-983-0411, ext. 276.

Testing

· Wiley is following CDC guidance on when to test staff and residents.

· The facility has stock PPE and is in compliance with NJDOH.

Strategic Staffing in Case of Shortage Procedure:

1. The facility shall notify NJ Department of Health (DOH) at 609-633-8981 or 800-792-9770 and Burlington County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) at 609-518-7200 by telephone immediately and in writing within 72 hours in the event the President/CEO and/or Director of Nursing are unable to perform their duties.

2. The Director of Nursing and/or designee will conduct daily assessment of staffing status and needs during COVID-19 outbreak.

3. Will notify the County OEM and DOH if there is a staffing crisis.

4. Will alert all staff through Alert Media that there is a critical need.

5. Will utilize all administrative nursing staff.

6. Will contact agencies we have agreements with for staffing of nurses, CNAs (and HHAs, if needed).

7. Will assign staff to residents who are under investigation and/or positive with COVID-19.

8. Will train staff from other departments to assist with feeding.

9. Will utilize resident assistants for feeding.

10. Minimum staffing will be determined according to our census.