Westview is a closed facility; therefore, the primary way COVID-19 could enter the building is through employees. Please review and adhere to the following measures in order to continue protecting our patients and residents who need to be shielded from exposure to the virus.
Asymptomatic transmission is a major factor in this viral spread! Therefore, it is crucial that we continue our diligence in not gathering with anyone from outside of our homes during this time.
As of Monday, November 2, 2020, all Westview staff will be receiving COVID-19 testing on a weekly basis. Testing will occur on Thursdays and Fridays.
If you are not working on one of the assigned days, you must call to make an appointment through the front desk (extension 100). You are responsible for making sure that you are tested weekly.
Testing is mandatory. It has been mandated by the Federal Government and the State of Connecticut.
Testing will be performed with our previous provider, Physician One and your results will be accessible through the My Quest App.
The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 present at illness vary, but over the course of the disease, most persons with COVID-19 will experience the following:
Atypical presentations have been described, and older adults and persons with medical comorbidities may have delayed presentation of fever and respiratory symptoms. In one study of 1,099 hospitalized patients, fever was present in only 44% at hospital admission but later developed in 89% during hospitalization. Headache, confusion, rhinorrhea, sore throat, hemoptysis, vomiting, and diarrhea have been reported but are less common (less than 10%). Some persons with COVID-19 have experienced gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea prior to developing fever and lower respiratory tract signs and symptoms. Anosmia or ageusia preceeding the onset of respiratory symptoms has been anecdotally reported, but more information is needed to understand its role in identifying COVID-19.
More information is available at: https://www.cdc.gov/
Ask ALL individuals to perform hand hygiene and put on a facemask prior to approaching the station to be screened.
ALL individuals entering the building must be asked the following questions:
1. SYMPTOMS Ask if the individual has any of the following respiratory symptoms:
If YES, restrict them from entering the building.
OR at least TWO of these symptoms:
If YES, restrict them from entering the building, notify supervisor, submit copy to Jessica Mulé and remove from schedule until cleared by Westview Infection Control/Employee Health. Notify the employee to make an appointment with Sports Medicine/Outpatient (ext. 159 or 161) for a Covid swab today/asap.
2. TEMPERATURE. Check temperature and document results:
If OVER 100 ℉ or 37.8 ℃, restrict them from entering the building.
3. EXPOSURE. Ask the individual if they have had any direct contact (within 6 feet for at least 5 minutes) with a person who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in the last 14 days. (Note: If individual is a health care worker and came in contact with a patient while wearing full PPE - it is not considered an exposure).
If YES, restrict them from entering the building, notify supervisor, submit copy to Jessica Mulé; remove from schedule until cleared by infection control/employee health.
4. TRAVEL. Ask the individual if they have traveled out of state for any reason in the last 14 days.
If YES, did they travel to a state listed on the Connecticut Travel Advisory List found at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel?
If YES, were they in that state for more than 24 hours?
If YES, were they traveling for any reason other than essential work purposes?
If YES, restrict them from entering the building, notify supervisor, submit copy to Jessica Mulé; remove from schedule until cleared by infection control/employee health.
4. Prior to allowing entry into the building, remind the individual to maintain 6 feet social distance from others, including staff and residents, and to keep their mask on at all times.
Westview employees must wear a mask:
Please review Westview's Face Mask Policy and Procedures PDF
for more detailed information:
View/Download
In addition, per recommendation from the CDC, people should wear face coverings when going out into public as an effort to keep (asymptomatic) individuals who have the disease (but don't know it) from spreading it.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:
Or at least two of these symptoms:
The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 present at illness vary, but over the course of the disease, most persons with COVID-19 will experience the following:
Atypical presentations have been described, and older adults and persons with medical comorbidities may have delayed presentation of fever and respiratory symptoms. In one study of 1,099 hospitalized patients, fever was present in only 44% at hospital admission but later developed in 89% during hospitalization. Headache, confusion, rhinorrhea, sore throat, hemoptysis, vomiting, and diarrhea have been reported but are less common (less than 10%). Some persons with COVID-19 have experienced gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and nausea prior to developing fever and lower respiratory tract signs and symptoms. Anosmia or ageusia preceeding the onset of respiratory symptoms has been anecdotally reported, but more information is needed to understand its role in identifying COVID-19.
More information is available at: https://www.cdc.gov/
Bravo to all of you who are working diligently to uphold the high standards of infection control practices while at work during this challenging time. It is equally important, however, to practice good infection control when you leave work as well.
It is imperative that we maintain our health and wellness for our own sake, the sake of our families and the sake of the residents and patients whom we care for each day.
Strategies to help keep you healthy & well:
Thank you for your continued commitment to safe care practices, both at work and in the community in which you live!
Together we can stay ahead of these germs and do our best to prevent its entry and spread.
Stay healthy!
It is the policy of Westview Health Care Center to communicate the presence of known COVID-19 cases and subsequent exposures in the facility to all staff, residents and resident family members.
Pursuant to State and Federal guidelines, the facility shall notify all interested parties listed above of any positive COVID-19 exposures as soon as possible and not to exceed 12 hours from the notification to the facility of any positive exposure.
Residents, resident responsible party members and staff with known direct exposure to a COVID-19 positive case/s will be notified individually of their level of exposure directly in person or via telephone.
In addition to a direct exposure to a respective resident and resonsible party member, all other resident family and/or responsible party members shall be notified via email or telephone in the event an email is not available of any non-direct exposures accordingly.
All active staff shall be notified directly while working and via the Employee COVID-19 Information Center located at the lower level time clock.
All notifications shall be executed by the Administrator and/or designee. Additionally, any and all communications, questions or concerns by staff, resident/s and/or a resident's responsible party member must be forwarded to Christine Zadora, Assistant to the Administrator at extension 110.
All individual medical status pertaining to COVID-19 for residents and staff is protected by the Health Insurance Portability Act (HIPPA) and is only to be shared with the respective parties.
Please remember that any and all communications related to any resident's medical condition is subject to HIPPA regulations.
At no time should any staff member communicate or speculate with resident family members or co-workers about other residents, the facility's exposure status and/or any other issue not specifically under the purview or responsibility of the respective staff member.
All staff should review the COVID-19 Employee Information Board daily and/or the facility's website COVID-19 for staff.
All staff is to be reminded that any and all discussions related to COVID-19 statuses may only be communicated consistent with the policy above.
Please remember to refer any and all questions to Christine Zadora, Assistant to the Administrator at extension 110.
If I have to take care of a COVID-19 patient, how do I keep my family safe?
There are two primary ways to catch COVID-19: by coming in direct close contact with a sick person or by touching the secretions (saliva or nose discharge) of a sick person and then touching your face.
The best ways to keep your family safe is to:
If you do get sick, notify your supervisor, employee health, and stay home. Follow CDC guidelines for how to care for yourself at home. Consider designating a sick area in your home where you can confine yourself and limit contact with other household members.
There are reports of some health care workers that CHOOSE to completely isolate themselves from their families regardless of symptoms; however, this is a personal choice and not a general recommendation. You need to make the best decision for you and your family at this time.
Additional guidance:
Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of the continued health and safety of our Westview community, please be reminded:
Personal reusable cups/travel mugs with lids are permitted as long as you maintain the hygiene of your reusable cups/ travel mugs by washing them daily with soap and hot water.
It is okay to bring in homemade food for your meals. Please be sure to disinfect all grocery bags or packaging surfaces, including reusable cups/travel mugs, before entering the facility
Be sure to wash your hands before meal prep, prepping a pot of coffee, and before/after using shared spaces
Thank you!
Question:
What is the single most important action that we can all take in fighting the spread of the coronavirus?
Answer:
Stay at home
It is important to remember that face mask use is a learned skill. Here are some important things to remember when using a face mask.
Face mask handling and reuse video
All non-essential Westview employee documentation has been suspended including:
In order to help reduce any anxiety of staff members not meeting the established attendance standards and/or being eligible for a perfect attendance bonus, we have temporarily suspended the employee attendance standards effective March 10, 2020 until the visitor restriction is lifted by the State of Connecticut's Department of Public Health.
All Westview Inservices are suspended until further notice. If your inservices are due during this time, you will be given a grace period so that the education score on your Annual Job Performance Review is not negatively affected.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:
People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms.
Disaster Distress Helpline
Being a healthcare worker during a pandemic can take an emotional toll on you.
There are things you can do to reduce traumatic stress reactions:
Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE; WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
If your are struggling with excessive anxiety or fear about the pandemic, please reach out to a peer, a supervisor, or healthcare professional.
Working in multi-health care facilities and/or businesses other than Westview, you may be exposing patients, residents and fellow health care workers at each location.
A thorough risk assessment will be conducted to determine the risk level as well as prevent any infection and mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 disease.
Thank you!
We are looking to complement our current generous staffing levels with energetic and compassionate individuals for the following positions:
Open this file using Adobe Acrobat in order to fill in the form fields. Once completed, save the file and email it to rbentley@westviewhcc.com
(You will need to download Adobe Acrobat for this option.)
Download Adobe Acrobat
Please contact Ruth directly for any questions or concerns regarding change in employment status, furlough questions and policy-related matters. Ruth can be reached at 860-774-8574, ext. 157.
If you or your loved one would like more information or to take a tour of the facility, we invite you to a closer look at Westview Health Care Center.
Please contact our Resident Services office at 860-774-8574
© Westview Health Care Center
Westview Health Care Center