Update from Administrator – May 1, 2020
Good afternoon,
As always, our team and I hope this message finds you safe and healthy.
This pandemic continues to be an incredibly challenging time, and we continue to work every day to ensure that we provide quality care and a safe environment for our residents. Our nursing home workers are saving the lives of patients every day, and they are saving the rest of us by serving on the front lines and limiting the reach of this insidious virus. The coronavirus pandemic has hit nursing homes at a disproportionately higher rate than the greater community.
From the beginning of this crisis, we have implemented extensive infection control measures to protect residents. I have listed those in many past emails as well as a recent letter sent out from the facility DNS, and our weekly “Town Hall” conference calls, and this information remains on our website. As always, if you would like any details on them, please let me know.
We also continue to do all we can to protect our other residents and remain committed to ensuring the personal protective equipment (PPE) our staff needs are consistent with CDC and state guidelines regarding the appropriate use of PPE. We continue to follow every lead to secure PPE from existing and new vendors and request equipment from the state. We also appreciate the donations the facility has received.
We are in touch with the Department of Public Health and our local Health Department. The state DPH has visited our center and found us in compliance with PPE, staffing and infection control and prevention issues. We continue to follow all CDC and state guidelines and receive regular updates on new guidelines that are offered.
I am incredibly grateful for our dedicated nursing home team and ask you to join me in ensuring that they are included as “Health Care Heroes” battling COVID-19. They are doing everything they possibly can to care for our residents and support them as they battle this disease.
We are fortunate that we have not experienced staffing issues due to the commitment our staff has in providing the highest quality of care to their patients. We are continuing to advertise and recruit for additional per diem staff to supplement our teams. We support our talented staff whose commitment to caring for our residents throughout this health crisis inspires us every day.
We have heard from many of you about how you can recognize our staff – like what is happening all around our state with other “Health Care Heroes.” Please reach out to me if you have any further ideas on how you would like to show your appreciation. My email is administrator@heatherwoodrhcc.com.
Our commitment is to be as transparent as possible and work to address any issues that arise. This is an incredibly challenging time and we will continue to do all we can to get through this, together.
Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!
Mark Zamperini LNHA
Heatherwood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center