The year 2020 will forever be embedded in our history due to COVID-19 pandemic. Our primary goal during this pandemic is to keep COVID-19 out of our facility.
On April 9, 2020, we learned about an ancillary employee who had tested positive for the virus. That particular employee had not been in the facility since April 2, 2020. We worked diligently with Sacramento County Health Department on contact tracing to mitigate the spread of the virus. Our residents and staff were monitored closely during the two-week period. We were relieved when our staff and residents did not display respiratory symptoms. On May 14 and May 15, 2020, our residents and staff were tested for the virus. All 88 residents and 102 staff tested negative. On May 21, 2020, an additional 28 staff members also tested negative.
We know it is imperative to have widespread testing done. However, we have encountered several challenges procuring an in-house CLIA waivered testing device. Despite being hopeful that we would be considered for the Abbott machine, we were again disappointed to learn that the device was not readily available for skilled nursing facilities. We continue to inquire about SARS CoV-2 testing devices. We recently learned about a device that meets our testing needs. However, it will take a couple of months before we can secure one.
We know that our best defense against our invisible enemy is robust infection control practices: handwashing, cough etiquette and maintaining social distancing. As the focus moves further into the phases of reopening California, we continue to be vigilant in our assessment skills, infection control measures and surveillance monitoring. We are grateful for all the support and personal protective equipment (PPE) donations we have received from our vendors, volunteers, donors and Sacramento County. Having the right tools to fight our invisible enemy makes the war bearable.
As clinicians, we have had to make sure that we are up to date with CDC (Centers for Disease Control), CMS, CDPH and Local Health Department guidelines. We are in a fluid situation, and information continues to change by the minute.
As the administrator of ACC, I can say unequivocally that our staff is the linchpin of our residents’ engagement, our organization’s citizenship, and our heroes. Keeping our residents and staff safe remains our highest priority.
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