We are wearing masks and face shields with every patient. Staff say they are very warm so will be interesting as the weather heats up this summer too!

Margaret Krull

PT • SouthEast Clinical Manager

Allina Health Home Health

Phone • 612-262-7683 • Pager 612-654-3097 • Cell 612-600-6892

margaret.krull@allina.com

Mail Route 34100 • 1055 Westgate Drive Suite 100 • St. Paul, MN 55114-1451

From: medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org <medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org> On Behalf Of Troumbly, Katie J
Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2020 8:27 AM
To: Stark, Jennifer <Jennifer.Stark@slhduluth.com>; Tendrup, Bonnie M <btendrup@bigforkvalley.org>; conniedreyer@aol.com; kpeterson@mnhomecare.org; medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Covid-19

We are doing the same – goggles and masks for all.

From: Stark, Jennifer <Jennifer.Stark@slhduluth.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2020 4:43 PM
To: Tendrup, Bonnie M <btendrup@bigforkvalley.org>; Troumbly, Katie J <ktroumb1@Fairview.org>; conniedreyer@aol.com; kpeterson@mnhomecare.org; medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Covid-19

Hi Bonnie, our staff began wearing eye protection or face shields with all patient visits this week. Prior to that, staff wore them for undiagnosed respiratory, suspected or known COVID patients only.

From: medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org [mailto:medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org] On Behalf Of Tendrup, Bonnie M
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2020 3:42 PM
To: Troumbly, Katie J; conniedreyer@aol.com; kpeterson@mnhomecare.org; medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Covid-19

CAUTION: External Sender - This email originated from outside of St. Luke's.
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So, for the self-screening

We currently have the HC staff complete the same Self -screening at the start of the day , document on worksheet and text temp and no symptoms to HC office.

Was there recommendations for other steps?

Also , what is everyone doing with eye protection? For asymptomatic ? or only for Positive COVID? Or?

Bonnie Tendrup || Home & Community Based Services Supervisor

One Thing Makes a Difference

From: medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org On Behalf Of Troumbly, Katie J
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2020 3:16 PM
To: conniedreyer@aol.com; kpeterson@mnhomecare.org; medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Covid-19

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Ugh, I personally think that’s crazy. Maybe they should send a video so we know that it is actually their temperature!! We should be able to have the employees sign a policy that says they will self-monitor and not work if they have symptoms.

Has anyone changed their absenteeism policy yet? People are going to move through the disciplinary process pretty quickly if we don’t modify it.

Thanks for letting me vent! 😊

From: conniedreyer@aol.com <conniedreyer@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2020 3:08 PM
To: Troumbly, Katie J <ktroumb1@Fairview.org>; kpeterson@mnhomecare.org; medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: Re: Covid-19

Thanks for the information.

One agency has employees take their temperatures at home (may be an issue as there are no thermometers available now), take a pic of the result and text it to their supervisors.

Connie

-----Original Message-----
From: Troumbly, Katie J <ktroumb1@Fairview.org>
To: Karen Peterson <kpeterson@mnhomecare.org>; medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org <medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org>
Sent: Wed, May 6, 2020 3:01 pm
Subject: RE: Covid-19

My only survey experience with COVID is on the hospital side thus far. MDH did issue a deficiency for not masking every employee as they walked through the door regardless of where they worked. They required a plan of correction with auditing. They wanted to cite a deficiency for not checking employee temperatures, but couldn’t do so because MDH had not given clear guidance on the expectation. I was told today that they expect MDH to send the deficiency once the expectation is clear.

I am struggling to figure out a process for checking temps and having employees sign an attestation that they are symptom free when they do not report to the office. Any suggestions?!

We are also struggling with PCA companies who are not providing their employees with proper PPE. We mutually care for these patients and they are very concerned, but are afraid to call and complain.

Katie

From: medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org <medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org> On Behalf Of Karen Peterson
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2020 12:41 PM
To: medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: RE: Covid-19

From what I am hearing, the questions and depth of info looked at varies widely, depending on who the surveyor is – but I still am hearing a consistency of a helpful attitude, not a punitive one, even as they might be letting the agency know they need to up their procedural performance related to COVID-19. I hope that was the case for this provider as well.

Masks are almost always an area of focus since that is tangible, and the state has required agency documentation of self-testing by all staff for a while, so it seems to me that the surveyor was in line with what I’ve heard from others.

How about the rest of you? Is this consistent with what you are seeing / hearing about?

-Karen

From: medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org <medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 11:59 AM
To: medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org
Subject: Covid-19

Hi All

I just talked with a provider in northern Minnesota who had a surveyor onsite looking at their policies/procedures for Covid-19. They actually had updated the policies in mid-March. The surveyor wanted more recent updates. She also wanted documentation of the temperature checks, even with field staff. And she asked how they educate staff for cleaning reusable masks and instructions on changing masks between clients. Based on the discussion at our last meeting, it seems she was asking for more information and documentation.

Thoughts??

Thanks
Connie

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