Live Update to Residents-October 6, 2020
Live updates to residents on our in-house TV970 keep us informed and connected on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. Today’s update featured John Burns, President and CEO; Tina Slate, Clinical Educator; and Logan Augustine, Chaplain.
The following updates were shared during the briefing.
John Burns
COVID-19 Update
In Parsons Health Center, we continue to test employees, and all residents were tested last week after a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) on Parsons Health Center First Floor tested positive. Thankfully, all the results so far have come back negative. We will test again this week. Assuming everything continues to go well, Parsons Health Center First Floor will be in quarantine until Thursday, October 15. This is one day earlier than we reported last week.
Two employees, one from Engineering and one from The Gables, who previously tested positive, have since recovered, tested negative twice and returned to work this week.
Earlier today, Westminster Canterbury learned that a Security employee has tested positive for COVID-19. We expect that the risk of exposure is low, and anyone who may have encountered this employee is being contacted directly.
In summary, since March, 15 residents and 32 staff have tested positive for COVID-19. All residents have recovered. Three employees are recovering in quarantine.
Visitation
Visitation in all areas continues to go well. Around 100 guests are visiting daily. Visitation in Parsons Health Center First Floor is suspended during their quarantine. Thank you to residents and your guests for following the screening procedures.
As a reminder, if residents are being picked up at a door, the person picking them up or dropping them off does not have to be screened, but they may not enter the building. If a guest needs to enter the building during pick up or drop off, the guest must be screened first at the Avalon Entrance.
Canterbury Room Carryout
Tomorrow, October 7, Carryout service will begin in the Canterbury Room at dinner, by call-ahead ordering only. Details about how to place and pick up orders are in the October 1 issue of The Tales.
Tina Slate
Tina Slate, Registered Nurse (RN) Clinical Educator, shared about her role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I came on board as a new employee in mid-April. I was recruited by Johanna Vaughan, Assistant Director of Nursing. We previously worked together as faculty at a local school of nursing.
During my initial interview panel I was tasked with creating a presentation about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at Westminster Canterbury. This has been an ongoing focus of education ever since.
During Week One, it became apparent that staff were concerned and fearful about many things such as exposure and susceptibility to the coronavirus while at work. We were also experiencing a personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage of gowns and masks in our region. A video was created to allay these fears. The topics covered in the video included:
1) Differences of protection offered by the surgical and N95 masks
2) Appropriate mask usage when caring for a resident diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19
3) Measures to follow when a resident, diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19, needs to be transferred or escorted out of the isolation room
4) Facility-specific innovative measures related to disposable gowns and proper sanitation of masks when providing direct care to a resident diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19
5) Principles and practicum of proper donning and doffing of PPE for isolation precautions (respiratory and droplet) and when adapting to facility innovative measures (gowns, masks, UV sanitation)
Following this, there was a need to address the impact of stress and anxiety created by the pandemic. A presentation was designed to help staff identify their stressors and learn multiple strategies to deal with stress at work and home. Examples include focusing on breathing, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation and physical activity.
A major part of my job is to conduct orientation training with new employees. Infection control is emphasized throughout training. New employees are required to demonstrate competence with infection control processes such as handwashing and proper donning and doffing of PPE. Additionally, they are fit tested for the N-95 mask and provided instruction on wearing and utilizing it correctly.
In July, I attended a workshop sponsored by the Virginia Department of Health entitled “Respiratory Fit Testing Train-the-Trainer.” The program provided instruction on how to fit test employees for the N-95 mask and provided guidance on training other departments to fit test their employees. The N-95 mask is to be worn by staff when providing care to residents who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. It is most important that staff are properly fitted for the mask so that it will provide them ultimate protection from the virus. Since attending this workshop I have fit tested multiple staff members and new employees. I will be conducting fit testing training for several departments in Parsons Health Center in the near future.
Preceptor training is another essential job duty of mine. During the month of August, two preceptor training programs were held. Parsons Health Center now has five new CNA preceptors. They learned role expectations, attributes of a good preceptor, leadership styles, learning and teaching strategies and conflict resolution.
Most recently, I conducted a Nursing Home Competency Assessment with the Parsons Health Center nurses and CNAs. This assessment is offered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP). The intent of the competency assessment is to assist long-term care facilities with staffing competency, sufficiency and performance in order to improve the quality of care and life for residents. The assessment will highlight strengths and growth areas among staff. The results of the competency will be used to identify priority learning needs and develop educational goals for growth at both the individual and facility-wide levels.
I am excited to have been afforded the opportunity to work as Parsons Health Center’s clinical nurse educator. This is a top-notch facility. The staff, leadership and administrative teams have been very warm and welcoming. Thanks to gifts to the Foundation, my job and the clinical education I provide are possible! I look forward to providing ongoing quality education to all employees at this facility.
Logan Augustine
Pastoral Care Announcements
We are filming Thursday worship services from the historic Montague Chapel for now while audiovisual equipment is installed in the Spiritual Center. Join us for worship on Thursday, October 8, at 10:30 a.m. on TV970. Rev. Dr. Bill Blake is preaching, Rev. Dr. Lynn McClintock is assisting, and Sally Maynard will play the piano.
October daily prayer booklets are available. If you would like a copy, please call Vanessa Perry at ext. 1502 or David Curtis at ext. 5179.
A Service of Dedication for the Spiritual Center will be shown Sunday, October 18, at 4 p.m. on TV970. A Sermon for Every Sunday will not be shown that day. The service will be rebroadcast at 7:30 p.m. on TV970 during the week.
The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Prayer
O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us. May all that we do flow from our deep connection with you and all beings. Help us become a community that vulnerably shares each other’s burdens and the weight of glory. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our world. Knowing you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God, amen.
-Richard Rohr