08/07/2020 (COVID-19 Update 21)
Greetings Bothell Health Care Community,
Yesterday, the long anticipated announcement from Governor Inslee was made via press conference, announcing details of the plan for the phased reopening of our state’s Long Term Care Facilities. Please note, this is a very detailed plan with many requirements and many aspects will not go into effect immediately.
Currently, Snohomish County is in Phase 2, however the rates per 100k of newly diagnosed cases during the prior two weeks as of 8/7/20 is 85.4 which means our facility will remain in Phase 1 at this time. One of the many requirements that must be met in order for our facility to progress to Phase 2, is that Snohomish County must have a rate of Moderate Transmission which is defined as 25-75 cases/100,000 population for two weeks. In addition to reviewing county metrics, Bothell Health Care leadership continues to review internal processes and access to PPE and testing supplies so that we are prepared for the eventual transitions ahead.
We ask that family members and loved ones of our residents check their email regularly for important notifications regarding phased reopening. If you need to update your email address or preferred method of contact, please reach out to us. Your loved one’s social worker or Resident Care Manager can assist with this.
Please be advised that Bothell Health Care has no active or suspected cases of COVID-19 at this time amongst both staff and residents. Our staff continues to receive ongoing education and communication from our leadership teams, and our residents receive regular updates and support. We continue to reinforce infection prevention techniques, and have clear protocols for staff to stay home and not come to work if they are ill or symptomatic. Newly admitted residents are placed on 14 day quarantine for increased observation and safety. In addition, our nurses continue to monitor each resident closely and communicate regularly with our Medical Providers. For further information on Coronavirus, we recommend visiting the official CDC website.
Sincerely,
Katharine Oleksa, RN
3/20/2020 COVID 19 Update 6 of 6
Bothell Health Care continues to actively monitor the coronavirus situation to ensure we are taking all appropriate measures to protect our community, residents and employees.
To date, there have been no reported cases resulting from coronavirus in our facility, and residents and employees are receiving ongoing communication updates from our leadership teams. As a precaution, our healthcare team, in cooperation with state and local partners, has been diligent in enacting precautions within our community. We are continuing to reinforce infection control procedures.
Staff has been trained on the symptoms of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), CDC recommended infection prevention techniques, and have clear protocols for staff to stay home and not come to work if they are ill or symptomatic. We have also requested that at this time, residents and families cooperate with the following changes:
1. Until further notice, all laundry for residents will be managed by facility housekeeping staff only.
2. Until further notice, no outside food which is not professionally prepared or pre-packaged may be brought into the facility for residents.
3. If professionally prepared/pre-packaged food, or other items (such as new clothing, toiletries, books, etc.) are brought to residents from outside of the facility, please have the person delivering those items contact your Resident Care Manager or the Social Services department to schedule a drop off date and time.
Please note the following additions:
4. When dropping off items for your loved ones, please do not attempt to enter the facility. Simply use the facility doorbell or call the facility at 425-481-8500 to alert staff that you have arrived with items to drop off. Once a staff member is alerted, leave your delivery next to the main entrance door and a staff member will retrieve items in order to disinfect and/or bag them prior to bringing them into the building.
5. Bothell Health Care is not responsible for lost or damaged items left outside unattended.
In conjunction with these efforts, our residents and staff have been urged to follow the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for preventing any viral respiratory illness within their community, including regular washing of hands, practicing good cough etiquette, and advising sick employees to stay at home if they exhibit signs of the virus. Social distancing is an important precaution during this time, and we appreciate your cooperation with these safety measures.
We greatly appreciate your support while we ensure the safety of all of our residents and staff. We will provide updates of any changes in operation or as new information is available. For the latest information and resources about the coronavirus, as well as tips on finding community resources for support, we recommend visiting the following helpful websites of LeadingAge and the CDC.
The news about the spread of this disease is concerning to us all. We at Bothell Health Care hope you are staying healthy, finding safe ways to connect with your community, and are receiving the support you need. We wish you well during this difficult time and encourage you to reach out to us if you have any concerns or questions.
Sincerely,
Julie Bingman, Administrator