COVID-19 Update From Our Administrator
This is to let you know what we are doing at Northwood to keep our residents, and your loved one, as safe as possible during this viral outbreak sweeping across the Nation right now. I will make every effort to update you weekly, and you should feel free to email or call me with any specific concerns or issues that you may have during the duration of this event. My email is Administrator@Northwoodrhcc.com.
I also want to make it clear that many of our initiatives are based on directives and guidelines being received either directly or through our corporate offices of Athena Healthcare from the MA Department of Public Health (DPH), and/or the US Centers for Medicare Services (CMS). In addition, there are certain directives/guidelines coming from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and/or USPHS (US Public Health Service).
Late last week we received about 12 hours of notice from state & federal officials that all visitors to our residents were to cease immediately until further notice. We made every effort to call each responsible party listed in our records before they arrived at the center and found that visitors could no longer come in. I am sure that we may have missed someone, but know that we tried to let everyone know.
Many of you were surprised and upset that this rule had been put into effect, and we want you to know that we understand your concern with this action, as many of you participate daily in your loved one’s care. This directive to us was part of a strategy of ‘mitigation’ intended to reduce the exposure of our residents to people, including yourself, that may have been exposed to the virus and carry it in without even knowing you are infected yet.
The directive against visitation was subsequently expanded to include entertainers and beauticians. Further, gatherings and outings were curtailed. So our Dining Room is closed to further notice. Unnecessary and/or routine clinical appointments are being postponed, and routine dental, audiology, and podiatry services will be reviewed on a case by case basis. All of this is geared to avoiding unnecessary contact to mitigate viral transmission.
We are attempting to expand our communication platform to include Skype and other options; Amanda Haberman, our Assistant Admissions Director, will be coordinating that effort. You may call her here and her email is admissionsassist@northwoodrhcc.com. Additional information on these options will be forthcoming. I will also initiate a weekly conference call with updates, probably on or about the same day I send the informational update email to you. More information on this will also be forthcoming.
In closing, we wish to assure you that we will all be working as hard as possible to make this event as tolerable as possible for our residents, and for you. I will be in touch again soon.
Tim Churchill
Administrator