Reliance Health Care COVID-19 Response
Last Updated 03.30.2020
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Core Commitment
Reliance Health Care provides administrative services to skilled nursing facilities across Arkansas and Southern Missouri. As part of these services, we are in constant communication with our client facilities and closely monitoring developments related to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). While this is a rapidly evolving situation our core commitment remains to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our residents, their family members, our employees, and partners. With that in mind, we are emphasizing the importance of following the guidelines and recommendations of the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Reliance will regularly update this informational website throughout the ongoing COVID-19 situation with resources and updates relevant to our residents, their families, and our employees.
We are and will continue to commit resources to the critical work at hand. We are working daily to maximize our client facilities capacity to protect and care for residents.
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Facility Action Items
Facilities are actively:
- Encouraging our staff and community members to thoughtfully protect their personal health and that of their families to help mitigate the risk of spread within a facility
- Screening health care professionals, at the beginning of their shift for fever and respiratory symptoms and asking them to routinely monitor themselves during their day
- Posting and informing facility employees of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19: fever, cough, shortness of breath.
- Encouraging employees to stay home when sick or not feeling well
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that are frequently touched: shared desks, counter tops, kitchen areas, electronics, doorknobs
- Keeping up to date on developments within the markets we serve
- Reviewing our emergency plans to be implemented in the event of a possible outbreak in any of our facilities
- Considering residents and facility employees that may be at particularly high risk given their condition or job responsibilities
- Restricting visitation and entry to our facilities by anyone other than essential health care personnel
- Cancelling large meetings and events as well as group activities and communal dining
- Encouraging residents and facility employees to social distance and limit activity as much as possible
- Encouraging the limiting and modification of face-to-face interactions
- Helping residents manage anxiety related to COVID-19 issues
- Keeping residents and others well informed through use of handouts and high visibility posters in high traffic areas
- Complete CDC facility specific checklist to prepare for potential outbreak of COVID-19
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Infection Prevention and Control
Facilities are actively:
- Implementing policies whereby our healthcare professionals wear appropriate personal protective equipment when engaging with residents or others who may be at risk of COVID-19 infection
- Making sure that hand hygiene supplies are accessible and well stocked
- Stocking alcohol-based, hospital-grade hand sanitizer (with more than 60% alcohol) throughout their buildings
- Making sure that sinks are stocked with soap and paper towels for hand washing
- Making tissues and face masks available for those who feel that they need them
- Designating staff members to steward supplies and directly encourage appropriate use by residents, staff and others
- Thoroughly educating personnel on the proper use of personal protective equipment, hand washing, and isolation procedures
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
In light of recent events, our facilities have undertaken proactive measures to acquire the personal protective equipment as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to limit the spread of COVID- 19 including employee masks, gowns, gloves, etc. We are sourcing this equipment from vendors worldwide to make sure that we are sufficiently stocked. We are also restricting access to our facility from visitors and screening all essential personnel for symptoms of an infectious disease before allowing them to work. We are committed to adhering to the recommended safety protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and maintaining a safe environment for our beloved residents and employees.
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In the Event of a Confirmed Case of COVID-19
- Immediately separate anyone who becomes sick and those who have been in direct contact with that individual from others in our facilities
- Immediately inform our affected community about the confirmed case and thoroughly respond to questions and concerns from anyone who feels they may have been exposed
- Completely and safely disinfect all areas which may have been contaminated
- Appropriately communicate with local health department officials
- Initiate active screening of community residents and health care professionals for fever and respiratory symptoms
- Plan for the disruption of typical services, like hospitals, stores, banks and pharmacies
- Implement the universal use of facemasks by all individuals in designated facility areas
- Implement facility specific COVID-19 contingency plan
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Methods of Communication
Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 situation, facilities may communicate with you in the following ways:
- Personal communication with community residents and families, preferred whenever possible
- Facility iPads for online video chat visitation (Contact your facility for more information on how to setup a time)
- Reminders at all entrances
- We will engage with local and state media outlets, if necessary, to properly communicate with all stakeholders
- This landing page devoted to COVID-19 updates with links to relevant healthcare websites
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Additional Resources
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