09/11/2020

Morris Health Service’s residents and staff were tested on September 8th, 2020 for COVID-19. We had 2 additional staff members from our care center test positive for COVID-19. All residents at West Wind Village and Skyview Senior Living have tested negative for COVID-19. We will be testing all residents and staff at both locations again next week. We continue to follow all recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Last week we learned about the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) testing requirements that include routine staff testing. Based on our current county positivity rate provided by CMS, our care center is in the high category. CMS recalculates the county positivity rate weekly and we will keep you updated if our category changes. This category requires us to routinely test staff twice weekly. All staff were tested on Tuesday this week and all STAFF will be tested again Friday, September 11th.
Stevens County is experiencing an increase in the number of positive cases in our area, which can pose a greater risk of exposure to both our residents and our staff. We need your help to stop the spread of COVID-19. Remember you can help limit exposure in our community through appropriate hand hygiene, mask use, and social distancing.
Looking for ways to help? We have a variety of positions available with flexible scheduling and on the job training. Please contact our care center for more information or visit www.jobswithus.org to apply.

We appreciate all the support, prayers, and offers of help that we’ve received. Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care center can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact Paula at 320-589-7900 or email her at phenrickson@mhs.sfhs.org.

09/03/2020

Morris Health Service’s residents and their staff were tested on August 31^st, 2020 after a staff member had been confirmed to have COVID-19.  We will continue weekly testing of all residents and staff until we have gone two consecutive weeks with no additional positive cases. As of September 3^rd, we have had 1 additional staff member of Morris Health Services Assisted Living test positive for COVID-19. We will be testing again on Tuesday, September 8^th.

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Inconclusive	Total Tested
Skyview Senior Living Residents	0	43	4	0	47
Staff at Skyview	1	21	0	0	22
West Wind Village	0	62	5	0	67
Staff at WWV	0	105	6	2	113

This week, CMS and MDH released new testing requirements for our care center’s staff and residents that are effective immediately. “Facility Staff” is defined broadly, to include employees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, and caregivers who provide care and services to residents on behalf of the facility, and students in the facility’s nurse aide training programs or from affiliated academic institutions.  The requirements outline routine testing depending on our county positivity rate:

• Low: Monthly testing in counties with less than 5% positivity
• Medium: Weekly testing in counties with 5-10% positivity
• High: Bi-weekly testing in counties with greater than 10% positivity

The rule also requires testing in three scenarios: (i) symptomatic individual identified; (ii) outbreak (new case arises in facility); and (iii) routine testing.  While CMS does not recommend routine testing of residents unless the resident leaves the facility regularly, it does require routine testing of staff.

Currently, our policy is to test residents and staff if they are symptomatic, had exposure to someone positive and during a known outbreak in our facility like we are experiencing now. Due to our county positivity rate, we will now be testing all staff monthly as well. This frequency is subject to change pending our county positivity rate.

We appreciate all the support, prayers, and offers of help that we’ve received. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact Paula at 320-589-7900 or email her at phenrickson@mhs.sfhs.org

As of today, we have no known cases of Coronavirus in our care center. We continue to follow the recommended guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Minnesota Department of Health. We carefully monitor all residents for symptoms, screen all staff at the beginning of each shift, use PPE, and conduct audits of our infection control practices, providing further education as needed. 

COVID-19 is still being contagiously transmitted throughout our state. It’s important to keep in mind that our residents are highly vulnerable to the virus and are the most at risk if they are infected.  It is our policy to continually evaluate the presence of positive COVID-19 cases in our communities and nearby counties. We are carefully considering our options regarding visitation, evaluating our policies and protocols and will update you weekly. In the meantime, please contact Paula at 320-589-7900 or by email at phenrickson@mhs.sfhs.org with any questions or concerns.

Currently, visiting with your loved one can be done through scheduled patio visits, open window visits, and closed window visits. We also encourage alternative means of communicating with residents such as phone calls, Facebook, Skype, etc. To schedule your visit, call Katlyn Gonzalez at 320-589-7960 or by email at kagonzalez@wwv.sfhs.org.

Looking for ways to help? We have a variety of positions available with flexible scheduling and training. Please contact the care center for more information or visit www.jobswithus.org to apply.

Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care centers can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

We would like to share the results from Morris Health Service’s 2^nd round of entire site testing shown below. Skyview Senior Living was tested on July 27^th and West Wind Village was tested on July 30^th. All test results have returned 100% negative for COVID-19.

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Lab Error	Total Tested
Skyview Senior Living	0	50	0	0	50
Staff at Skyview	0	32	0	0	32
West Wind Village	0	65	0	0	65
Staff at WWV	0	101	0	0	101

Morris Health Services has now gone two consecutive weeks with no additional positive cases of COVID-19. Following these results and all recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, we have closed our COVID unit and will be lifting the precautions we introduced during the threat of COVID-19. Beginning Wednesday August 5^th, we will begin scheduled, monitored, social distanced patio and open window visits. Please contact Katlyn Gonzalez, 320-589-7960 or kagonzalez@wwv.sfhs.org to schedule your visit.

As visitor restrictions in the care centers continue to loosen, it is crucial that we all remain vigilant on social distancing, face masks and proper hand hygiene. As we experienced, open window visits, patio visits, and the soon coming Essential Caregivers’ program can come to an immediate halt if any resident or staff member test positive for COVID-19. The healthcare heroes in our community need you. This week we are calling on the friends and family of all who live and work here to partner with us and our affiliates, as we keep face masks and social distancing as important in our everyday lives as it is in our care center. Post a picture of you wearing a facemask and tag our Facebook page @MorrisHealthServices using the hashtag #MaskingWithSFHS. Tell us and the rest of our community why you continue to wear a facemask and be proud of helping protect our seniors and those who care for them.

Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care center can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

07/29/2020

Last week we shared the results from Skyview Senior Living’s 1^st round of testing which were all negative. Today we are sharing the results from West Wind Village’s 1^st round of testing that was done on Thursday, July 23, 2020. As you can see below the results that did come back, were all negative. Unfortunately, there was 1 resident and 10 staff tests that have not been returned due to a lab error. Entire-site testing will be done for all of West Wind Village again on Thursday, July 30^th.

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Lab Error	Total Tested
Skyview Senior Living	0	50	0	0	50
Staff at Skyview	0	32	0	0	32
West Wind Village	0	66	0	1	67
Staff at WWV	0	101	0	10	111

Results as of 07/29/2020

Entire-site testing was performed for the 2^nd time on Skyview Senior Living residents and staff on Monday, July 27^th.  We anticipate their results later this week and will share them with you after they come in. If all results come back negative, we will discontinue weekly testing at Skyview Senior Living.

Our COVID unit remains open until all testing is complete. If our testing results continue to come back negative for residents and staff, the unit will no longer need be in use and will be closed.

We appreciate your continued support. For all results and latest updates please visit our website at www.sfhs.org. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact Paula at 320-589-7900 or email her at phenrickson@mhs.sfhs.org.

07/24/2020

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Total Tested
Skyview Senior Living	0	50	0	50
Staff at Skyview	0	32	0	32
West Wind Village	0	0	68	68
Staff at WWV	0	0	111	111

As we have stated in previous updates, Morris Health Services have initiated entire-site testing. Skyview Senior Living residents and their staff were tested on Monday, July 20^th, 2020 and West Wind Village residents and their staff was tested Thursday, July 23, 2020. We will continue weekly testing of all residents and staff until we have two consecutive weeks with no additional positive cases.  If we receive any positive tests, we will promptly notify all residents, their family contact and our staff. We will update the community on our results as well as our ongoing work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 via our website (www.mhs.sfhs.org) and our Facebook page.  

Results as of 07/24/2020

We are thrilled to report that all staff and residents from Skyview Senior Living have tested negative for COVID-19.  We are still waiting on the results from the tests at West Wind Village done on Thursday. The resident who had tested positive for CoVid-19 has been transferred to our segregated unit in West Wind Village where they will receive care required to see them through this illness.

You continue to be a key partner in keeping our residents and staff safe. The threat for COVID-19 is still very real and we have seen the devastating impact this virus can have on the long-term care industry. We stand with Governor Walz and ask you to continue to partner with us in wearing a face mask when unable to social distance. This face mask is a simple and effective way we can protect our dedicated staff and residents who are most at-risk for this virus.

We appreciate all the support, prayers, and offers of help that we’ve received. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact Paula at 320-589-7900 or email her at phenrickson@mhs.sfhs.org.

July 17, 2020
Friends & Families of Morris Health Services,

As of 07/17/2020 a tenant of Skyview Plaza has tested positive for COVID-19. As an affiliate of West Wind Village, this event triggers a planned process of opening a segregated unit at West Wind Village that will isolate caregiving to COVID-19 positive residents in a manner that aggressively minimizes transmission to others. This segregated unit is physically separated from the rest of our community and the designated staff will remain within the segregated unit and will not have physical contact with other non-segregated residents or staff. Our top priority is to keep everyone safe and healthy. We are collaborating with Dr. Elizabeth Meichsner, our Medical Director and the Minnesota Department of Health and are following all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ensure we are taking all appropriate steps at this time.

Tenants of Skyview Plaza and Court have been asked to quarantine themselves to their apartments where they will continue to receive scheduled cares and meals. Our staff are equipped with specific training and personal protective equipment (PPE) to continue to provide safe, quality care, services and support to the residents of our communities.

Any tenants and residents who test positive will be transferred to the segregated unit at West Wind Village and receive specific cares required during their illness. Any staff who tests positive will be quarantined at home and will not be allowed to return to work until they recover from the virus, symptom free (7 days from onset or 3 days post last symptom) and pass the employee screening protocols.

With the confirmed case of COVID-19 in Skyview Plaza, we will be initiating the process of entire site testing for all tenants and staff of Skyview Plaza and Court, as well as residents and staff of West Wind Village. More information regarding this testing will be forthcoming. We believe this is the best way to protect tenants, residents, staff and our community and track the path of the virus. If we receive any positive tests, we will promptly notify all residents, their family contact and our staff. We will continue to update the community on our results as well as our ongoing work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 via our website (www.sfhs.org) and our Facebook page.

Our staff are equipped with specific training and personal protective equipment (PPE) to continue to provide safe, quality care, services and support to the residents of our communities. We are committed to the health and safety of all the people that live and work in our community.

Due to the confirmed case, we must suspend all open-window and patio visits at this time at all locations. We will continue to schedule closed window visits or virtual visits. We will continue to update you on any news, emerging issues, or additional changes in our operations via Bright Arrow, email, website, and our Facebook page. We know that this news may concern you or that you may have questions about what we are doing to keep everyone safe and healthy. Please do not hesitate to reach out at 320.589.1133.

Sincerely,
Morris Health Services

Our care center has been awarded a COVID-19 Technology Grant. This grant was developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and administered by the MN Department of Human Services in response to the challenging visitor restrictions caused by COVID-19. This grant is to be used for communication technology to improve our resident’s virtual visits with family and friends; and telehealth visits with physicians.

This equipment, added to the communication devices we have already been using, will greatly enhance our residents’ virtual visits. If you wish to set up a virtual visit, window visit or patio visit, please contact our care center. We ask that you schedule this visit ahead of time to ensure we have staff available to assist your loved one if needed.

As of 7/10/2020 there have been no known cases of Coronavirus in our care center. We continue to follow all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).  We are continuing to monitor information related to new cases in our rural communities and the impact this has on our ability to provide further access to residents within our care centers.  Updated information on our preparedness for COVID-19 can be found on our website (www.sfhs.org) or Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

The 4^th of July is a very special day on the American calendar. As such, our staff have a variety of fun activities planned for our residents to enjoy. Our residents and staff continue to find unique ways to have fun and rejoice in life under the new normal amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

Please note, if you plan to do a patio visit, open or closed window visit, or virtual visit this holiday weekend, we ask that you schedule ahead of time. You can schedule your visit by calling our activities department.

As of 07/03/2020, there have been no known cases of Coronavirus in our care center. We continue to follow all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

As we monitor the care centers in MN surrounding us who have experienced caring for residents testing positive for Coronavirus and a loss of staff due to the outbreak, we continue to refine our plan to manage an active case in our care center.  In the event your loved one is diagnosed with CoVid-19, we must transfer them to a segregated and quarantined unit to properly meet their care needs and protect other residents from further outbreak.  There are many issues to consider related to maintaining the segregated unit but the greatest concern is staffing, both within and outside of the segregated unit.  Our hope is that our staffing would remain constant, but care centers that have experienced an active case, see as much as a 20% loss of their nursing staff due to exposure or requested Leaves of Absence.  For that reason, it may be necessary to transfer the resident who tests positive to a nearby location or affiliate care center that has the necessary equipment and staff needed to care for CoVid-19 patients. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this in person with you.  If you have concerns or questions related to this, please contact us.  If you do not speak to someone, please leave a message and you will receive a follow up call.

If you know of an RN or CNA who would be interested in working at {insert care center} either PT or FT, please provide them the following link:  www.jobswithus.org.

Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care center can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. 

In the past week, MHS has created opportunities for more meaningful connections for our residents and loved ones through open window visits and outdoor patio visits. Our entire team enjoys seeing our residents and loved ones visiting and look forward to the days when we are once again able to welcome visitors into our care center.  We ask that you schedule your virtual visits, open window visits, and patio visits ahead of time due to high demand and safety of our residents.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) set strict guidelines for our care centers including prohibiting communal dining. We have now received revised guidelines and reviewing all of the requirements to safely implement communal dining.  Look for more information on this subject in the future.   

As of 06/26/2020, there have been no known cases of Coronavirus in our care center. We continue to follow all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). As the state agencies loosen restrictions, please know you are a key partner in preventing the spread of CoVid-19 in our care center. We ask that you understand the requirements and procedures we have put in place, and work with us as partners in caregiving to abide by them.

Your messages of support, prayers, and patience will not be forgotten. If you have and questions, concerns, or ideas for make visiting better, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.  Thank you again for being partners with us in fighting the COVID-19 virus.

Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care center can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page.