EFFECTIVE: 11/16/2021

 (CMS:QSO-20-39-NH Revised 11/12/21)

COVID MITIGATION “INDOOR VISITATION POLICY”

EFFECTIVE: 11/16/2021

 (CMS:QSO-20-39-NH Revised 11/12/21)

INDOOR VISITATION WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS:

• Mercer County COVID Transmission Rate
• Saint John XXIII Home resident/staff vaccination/COVID status
• Visitor vaccination status

Our goal is to provide an environment that is as COVID safe as possible. We have no desire to restrict resident/family visitation, however, we do have a need to restrict visitor traffic flow, to help mitigate this virus moving forward.

ROUTINE VISITS:

1. All visitors must adhere to the Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention.
2. Visitors who are positive for COVID-19, who have symptoms of COVID-19, or meet the criteria for quarantine are NOT permitted to enter the facility.
3. All visitors will be required to complete the COVID exposure questionnaire and verify no recent exposure, with each visit.
4. We will inquire about the visitors vaccination status.  Visitors are NOT required to be tested or to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of visitation.  Visitors who are unvaccinated OR decline to disclose vaccination status will be required to wear a face mask at all times during the visit.
5. Fully Vaccinated visitors will be required to wear their mask into the facility, during transport to/from the visit but may remove the face mask during the actual visit. (staff will verify Vaccine status, copy not needed)
6. All visitations will be conducted in Roncalli Center, front patio or designated area.
7. Visitation will not be limited to day/time.
8. Visitation will not be restricted to number of visitors during visit.
9. Visitation will not require an appointment. In an attempt to minimize wait times, we request that visitors notify/call the facility prior to their visit.  This will allow staff ample time to assist your loved one to the Front Desk area.  This will also ensure that Roncalli Center is available for visits and not occupied for a resident activity/function.  We will do our best to accommodate all visitation requests.
10. Roncalli/Patio visitors will be able to meet their loved one at the front desk and proceed to Roncalli or patio for their visit. 
11. Eating/drinking during visits will be a condition of visitor vaccination status due to the mask requirements.  Fully vaccinated visitors will be permitted to eat/drink during the visit.  Unvaccinated visitors will not be able to do so, due to the REQUIREMENT to wear a mask at all times during the visit.
12. At the conclusion of your visit, we ask that you clean your visitation area and return DIRECTLY to the front desk area.
13. When the Mercer County COVID Transmission status drops to LOW STATUS, we will resume visitation throughout our facility, including resident rooms. The Country Transmission rate is posted at the front entrance of our facility and is monitored weekly.
14. The INDOOR VISIT requirements do NOT impact Compassionate Care visits as required by the PA-DOH.

SPECIALIZED VISIT ARRANGEMENTS:

1. Compassionate Care visits remain in effect.
2. End of Life visits will be accommodated.
3. COVID positive or COVID exposed residents:  While not recommended, visits may still occur.  Visitors will be educated related to the risks of such and be required to wear full PPE at all times during the visit.  By definition, these visits would need to take place within the designated “COVID ZONES”, which imposes increase risk to the visitor.

RESIDENT OUTINGS:

1. Residents continue to be permitted to participate in outings of their choice.  In most cases, Outings will NOT result in testing, isolation or quarantine.
2. Please report any possible close contacts with COVID-19 regardless of the resident vaccination status.  This could trigger a need for the facility to test the resident and/or initiate quarantine if the resident is unvaccinated.
3. Residents who develop symptoms following an outing will be tested and placed on transmission based precautions, regardless of vaccination status.

HELP US:

The potential of increased exposure exists for both the resident and visitor with ANY type of visit or outing.  Please use good judgement during your visits related to handwashing, mask use and social distancing from other residents, visitors and staff that are NOT part of your scheduled visit.  Please understand, an outbreak can originate from any individual whether vaccinated or unvaccinated.  You may feel perfectly fine and be contagious.  Please do you part to help us prevent the spread of this virus at SJ23.