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Below is my response to Kathy.

One point that I did not expound on is the lack of testing for our patient-facing employees. If they cannot get tested and have been exposed to a Person Under Investigation (PUI) for the virus or the employee is having symptoms of fever greater than 100.4, acute respiratory symptoms of cough and shortness of breath then we must take them out of the field to quarantine at home for 7 days or until we confirm they have gone 72 hours being fever free without the use of antipyretics and have improved respiratory symptoms.

For those employees who have traveled overseas or to New York (and soon to be more states) or who have had extended exposure (more than 10 minutes within 6 feet) to a confirmed case, we enforce the 14 day quarantine. This has the potential to quickly and profoundly reduce the number of workers who are being called on as an essential service to keep patients at home. We need some advocacy regarding the availability of rapid tests to stabilize our workforce.

Thanks everyone for all you’re doing to ensure we can keep patients safely at home.

Judy

From: Judy M. Giel <jfgiel@pediatrichomeservice.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 3:56 PM
To: Kathy Messerli
Subject: Re: C-19 Task Force

Kathy, I think this is a good idea and I also think that our members are completely slammed in this national and state emergency. What is most concerning to us right now, is the number of cases who are walking around out there without symptoms, but have the virus and have not been tested. We cannot get any of our nurses tested. The tests are reserved for hospital personnel.

At PHS, we are spending multiple hours daily receiving updates from CDC and MDH, identifying, securing or chasing after PPE, making face shields and face masks, monitoring use of PPE, evaluating health concerns by our 400+ workforce, creating letters for employees should the governor call for shelter at home, communicating with our families, communicating with our employees, creating and implementing flexible work from home policies, ensuring safe distances for all staff in the office, trying to keep our patients at home, trying to meet the demands of the acute care facilities who are discharging patients in order to accommodate impending COVID-19 cases, ensuring we have adequate medical devices such a ventilators, airway clearance, oxygen, oximeters to meet the need, and to keep paying the bills and ensuring sound revenue cycle management.

While I think your ideas about having providers who bring knowledge and expertise to the table is the only option, I am not sure how easy it will be to find the resources to advise you. We have all hands on deck and I am sure our agency members do, also. I believe you’re going to want leadership involved, as they are the ones with the most current and necessary information. I hate being such a Debbie downer, but this is a real crisis.

From: Kathy Messerli <kmesserli@mnhomecare.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 3:28:40 PM
To: Judy M. Giel <jfgiel@pediatrichomeservice.com>
Subject: C-19 Task Force

I would like to form a small task force that can meet (virtually) with Karen and I on a regular basis. CA has instituted this and found it incredibly helpful. They help ensure we are aware of the issues members are faced with. Do you have thoughts regarding this idea and how we should move forward to select members? I’d like it to be providers who can bring knowledge to the table vs those looking for this to be a learning opp. Any infectious disease or maybe quality compliance staff would be good.

Kathy Messerli

Executive Director

MN HomeCare Association

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