I’m hopeful this update finds you and your family safe and well. Our family here at Saint John XXIII Home continues to be “COVID FREE”, as our staff remain diligent related to mitigation of the virus. Our entire staff is grateful for your cooperation, patience, efforts to mitigate the virus and for on-going prayer for our residents, staff and facility.
As you know, Mercer County moved into the “Green phase”, on June 5th, 2020. At that time, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) determined that standards for PA nursing homes would not change “for at least 28 days” after their county moved to the Green Phase. A few days later, the PADOH announced that they would release further “re-opening” standards in early July. We anticipate that these “re-opening” standards will include; resuming activity programming to some degree, barber/beauty services, visitation allowances, etc.
In addition to the upcoming July standards, the PADOH has already issued new/revised standards related to COVID-19 mitigation. These revisions include BASELINE TESTING of ALL residents and staff for COVID-19. Baseline testing will begin the week of June 15th, here at Saint John XXIII Home. We will notify residents/responsible party PRIOR to the test administration, as well as, upon receipt of test results. We are hopeful that tests results will be negative for all residents/staff. However, an additional standard is for the facility to have a plan to handle current positive cases and/or possible exposure. This plan requires a plan to create; “green”, “yellow”, “Red” zones within the facility. As you can imagine, this is a monumental task and by nature will need to be a fluid process. Certainly our goal is to have a facility wide “Green Zone” but be prepared should the need dictate such.
Please know that we are doing everything possible to keep our residents and staff safe. We are approaching a time of creation of a “new normal” related to care, services and visitation in healthcare facilities. In the meantime, please continue to reach out to your loved one via telephone, email, Skype, Facebook, common area window visits or mail. We ask that you do NOT conduct window visits at your loved ones “room window”, due to dignity, privacy and COVID prevention purposes.
As we approach this time of baseline testing, we ask that you continue to pray for our residents and staff. Mercer County has gone “Green” but please remember that the risks for those who work and reside in nursing homes remain. With that in mind, please continue to social distance, wash your hands, wear a mask and do your part to prevent the spread.
Sincerely,
Kirk Hawthorne
Administrator/CEO
Saint John XXIII Home