Update 04/23/2020 -Masks, Coffees, Doughnuts & Random Audits

/in

Update 04/23/2020

Random Audits

Fraser Health is conducting random safety audits to ensure that staff in all long-term care and Assisted Living are wearing PPE, practicing social distancing and following the guidelines for safety that have been outlined in the Fraser Health LTC/AL/IL COVID Binder. You are aware of these protocols, including hand hygiene, hand sanitization, self-monitoring and active screening. Be vigilant – this is not the time to let up in your commitment to all protocols. We are so grateful that we do not have COVID-19 at Menno Place. Keep up the great work!

Staff Food

These audits are also look at best practices for staff food within the resident unit. No staff food is permitted within the resident unit. Staff may only bring in their own personal lunch and it must be stored in the staff rooms. There is NO food permitted at the nursing station or anywhere else within the unit.

Bringing Food into Menno Place

No “outside” food allowed within the Menno Place buildings. This includes doughnuts and coffees. You may not bring in doughnuts to share with your co-workers (even though we know how nice that is!). Nor can you bring in a coffee from Tim Horton’s, Starbucks or McDonalds. Your coffee must be in your own cup that has been sanitized.

Clutter

The auditor is looking at Nursing Stations. They are looking for clutter that takes up space, needs to be moved, is touched by multiple people. Clear off the nursing stations and other prime locations for clutter. Everything should be wipeable, cleanable and readily sanitized.

Social Distancing

Make every effort to keep your distance! Even if you are wearing your PPE, you cannot loosen up on the social distancing. There are times when it feels “normal” to huddle around the nursing station, your computers or for your break. When you work together to accomplish a task and it’s necessary to have two people involved, you must work together. If you are not working on a task together (lifting, bathing, etc), you MUST remain 6 ft away from each other. Thank you for making these efforts both at work and when you go home or go to get groceries. Our infection control protocols have limited the opportunities for COVID-19  to enter Menno Place. Any who enter our buildings remain the greatest risk of carrying the coronavirus in. This can feel like a huge burden to bear. The best way to relieve that burden of responsibility is to practice vigilant infection control protocols, including hand washing and showering / changing clothing between shifts in different buildings or units and getting a COVID-19 swab test if you say yes to any of the Active Screening Questions:

  1. Do you have a fever?
  2. Do you have a new or worsening cough?
  3. Do you have new or worsening sneezing?
  4. Do you have new or worsening runny nose?
  5. Do you have new or worsening shortness of breath?
  6. Do you have new or worsening gastrointestinal symptoms?

Wearing PPE

Masks

Fraser Health provided a COVID-19 Response Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Framework that outlines the guidelines for wearing PPE.

We have solidified our supplies and are satisfied that our supply chain can continue to provide Menno Place with PPE that will allow us to follow these guidelines moving forward.

Action points for staff:

  • No more use of homemade masks. Effective 4/27/2020, you will be wearing a Surgical / Procedure Mask. Thank you to all who made our fabric masks – thank you to all who donated them! Thank you to all who have been carefully using them, washing them and ensuring that we preserve our mask supplies. Please wash your mask and put it away for a future date if required.
  • In the resident care units, the following guidelines will direct your use of masks:
    • Put on surgical mask at the beginning of your shift
    • Put on a new mask after coffee and lunch breaks and return to the unit (dispose of previous mask in regular garbage)
    • Change mask if it becomes damp, damaged, visibly soiled or difficult to breathe through
    • Wear continuously as much as possible
    • Avoid touching the mask
    • Immediately clean hands if mask is adjusted or touched during the shift
    • Remove surgical mask when it becomes damp/damaged/visibly soiled/difficult to breathe through, before going for breaks or at end of shift
  • N95’s – We are grateful for the donations and the supply we have of N95’s. There are very specific situations in which to wear an N95 mask, primarily Aerosol Generating Procedures. They are not standard for daily use. Our supply of N95’s is strong. Your supervisor will advise you should you need to wear one.

Goggles

Eye Protection

  • In the resident care units, the following guidelines will direct your use of goggles:
    • Put on eye protection at the beginning of the shift
    • Put on cleaned eye protection (clean with soap and water) after coffee, lunch breaks and return to the unit
    • Clean eye protection if it becomes damp, damaged, visibly soiled or difficult to see through – WE HAVE A SOLUTION FOR FOGGING UP! You can rub shaving cream in the interior of your glasses and rinse. Tip from Assisted Living staff who have tried this and say it works!
    • Wear continuously as much as possible.
    • Avoid touching the eye protection.
    • Immediately clean hands if eye protection is adjusted or touched during shift.

The PPE Procurement Team (Bas Kervel, Renate Steffan and Kathrin McMath) have done an incredible job ensuring the consistent delivery of PPE as required. They have done a thorough audit of the current levels of PPE and they are confident that we have a steady flow of supply. GREAT JOB, TEAM!

Face Shields

We are VERY grateful for the donated Face Shields that we have received, primarily through the generosity of the Eugene Reimer Middle School, Doerksen Construction and Abby Glass. Thank you! These laser-cut face shields are what Menno Place may need if we are facing a COVID-19 outbreak. They will not be deployed for any other purpose.

Swabs/Testing

The COVID-19 Testing site has moved from the MSA Arena to 2692 Clearbrook Rd.

If you are feeling sick at work or home:

  • Self-Isolate
  • Inform your Supervisor
  • Do the online self-assessment – www.AbbotsfordCovidResponse.com
  • Get an appointment (you will need to wait 24 hours after symptoms appear to ensure greater accuracy in the swab testing)
  • Go to the Testing Site – 2692 Clearbrook Road for your appointment. There is no longer a drive-through. You will enter for an appointment.

You are SO Appreciated!

Now that you’ve read all of these items in this update, you deserve some encouragement: Click Here to Read the 94 Words of Encouragement for YOU, the Frontline Workers