2020-05-01_jpatchett_Covid-19 P&P.docx

Home Care Assistance Edmonton Policy & Procedure for COVID-19

Our Policy and Procedures regarding COVID-19 is the operational expectations outlined below and is required under the Record of Decision CMOH Order 10-2020 and in line with Alberta Health Services Policy and procedures. The intent of our Expectations is to help ensure that seniors and other vulnerable Individuals living and working in home care settings are kept as physically safe as possible, mitigating the risk of COVID-19 which are significant as well as other infections.

Assessment for Caregivers:

All Caregivers are to complete our COVID-19 assessment tool via clear care portal prior to clocking into client services. (See Table 1).

If Caregivers are symptomatic:

If any caregivers have checked off Yes to any of the symptoms on the assessment tool;

Caregivers is to not have any direct contact with the client

Leave client premises

Call office staff to speak to their clinical client service manager (Sonia) for further advisement.

If Caregivers are experiencing symptomatic symptoms during client care:

Caregiver’s is to not remove their face mask and leave client’s premises immediately ensuring that the client is safe to do so

Caregiver is to notify the clinical client care manager for further advisement

Scheduling coordinator will find a replacement to complete client services.

Home Care Assistance Edmonton procedure when employees are experiencing Symptomatic Symptoms:

Clinical Manager is to advise staff to self-Isolate for 10 days

Caregivers are to contact 811 Alberta Health Services Health Link for COVID-19 Testing

Alberta Health Services is to collect and submit nasopharyngeal swabs

Caregivers is to notify the office when COVID-19 test results are confirmed positive or negative

Caregivers are to return to Home Care Assistance Edmonton Clients When:

The clinical Client Service Manager (Sonia) will contact the caregiver for prescreening. See Table (1)

The caregiver has isolated for 10 days is no longer symptomatic and has tested negative on COVID-19 testing

Caregivers has tested Positive for COVID-19:

If the caregiver has tested positive for COVID-19, they are not to return to any of Home Care Assistance Edmonton client’s and to self-isolate for 10 days until cleared by Alberta Health Services/Public Health

Clinical client service manager will contact AHS and public health to confirm employees COVID-19 testing

Pre-Screening Home Care Assistance Edmonton Client’s:

Caregivers are to assess the client using the assessment tool (See Table 2) via clear care portal

Caregivers are to check off the task bar and document if the client is experiencing Symptomatic Symptoms

Client experiencing symptomatic symptoms

Client is to call Alberta Health Services 811 Health Link

Client is to self-isolate for 10 days

Alberta Health Services is to collect and submit nasopharyngeal swabs

Client is to notify family members to not visit their Home

Client is to notify clinical service manager once test results has returned

Clinical service manager will advise client on how caregivers will move forward on providing services

Clinical service manager will advise caregivers on PPE equipment and precautions when providing care

Assisting Client’s with Services while being tested or has been positive for COVID- 19:

Clinical Service manager will implement contact and droplet precautions using PPE equipment including isolation gowns, goggles, face shield, gloves and hand sanitizer inside the front entrance of the client’s home

Caregivers will be delegated by clinical service manager on how to use PPE according to Alberta Health Services standards

A precaution sign (See Appendix A) will be placed inside the client’s home front entrance for caregivers to know on how to use and follow precaution’s

A sign (See Appendix B) will be placed where the PPE equipment is placed so caregivers can follow-on how-to Don/Doff PPE equipment accordingly

A bin with a recycle garbage bag will be placed in the client’s home with a sign on it stating used PPE Equipment COVID-19 will be placed in front of a blue garbage bin secured with tape so collectors are notified to use precautions when disposing

Caregivers are to use good hand washing techniques that has been emailed to all caregivers via clear care and to follow Alberta Health Services Protocol

Caregivers will be assigned one client only, with clients who are symptomatic or has tested positive for Covid-19

Assisting Home Care Assistance Clients during the COVID-19 Pandemic:

Caregivers are to use precautions followed by Alberta Health Services Standards

Caregivers are to apply a face mask prior to entering the client’s home

Caregivers are to discard their mask once services have been completed and discard if face mask is soiled or when they feel it has been contaminated

Caregivers are to use good hand washing technique using hand sanitizer that contains alcohol 60 % or greater or warm soap with water

Caregivers are to ensure they wipe down all surfaces in the client’s home with any type of disinfectant cleaner. Caregivers are to disinfect; all surfaces in the home, doorknobs, computers, cell phone, house phones, counters, toilets etc., prior to end of shift

Caregivers are to wipe down their cell phones with disinfectant cleaner or Clorox wipes once they have clocked out on our clear care portal

Clients who have been Tested Positive but has been Cleared by Alberta Health Services:

Clinical manager will Inform caregiver regarding client’s results

Clinical manager will pick up PPE Equipment, sanitize PPE equipment and bring back into the office storage room

All services are to resume as usual using precautions

Caregiver is then to go back to their regular client schedule and are permitted to visit more than one client after 10 days when the caregiver has been notified that the client has been cleared from COVID-19

Client Transportation:

Caregiver & client is to use face mask during transportation at all times

Hand washing prior to and exiting the vehicle is to be initiated

Caregiver is to wipe vehicle using any disinfectant before and after entering the vehicle.

Transportation is for essential services only

Communication with Clients regarding best Practice and COVID-19:

Follow up with client regarding precautions Home Care Assistance Edmonton have in place during COVID-19 Pandemic

Follow up with client and keep client’s updated regarding changes that has been approved by Alberta Health Service standards

Caregiver Tasks/ Precautions/Communication;

Caregiver is complete the Self-assessment tool via Clear Care Portal

Caregiver is to complete the client assessment tool via clear care on the task bar

Caregiver is not to work for any other Home Care Company, Long Term Care Facility, Assisted Living or group home during the COVID-109 pandemic

Scheduling coordinator is not to schedule any caregivers with clients who use transportation services such as buses to prevent transmission

Caregivers is to place a mask on at all times during client services

Caregivers is to discard their face masks after each client visit and change their face mask if the mask is contaminated or soiled.

Caregiver is to use proper hand washing prior and end of shift (See Appendix C & D)

Caregiver is to use proper hand washing in between client tasks

Caregiver is to use gloves at all times throughout client services and is to be changed between tasks

Caregiver is sent updated notification via clear care regarding precaution updates and changes in policy followed by Alberta Health Services

Caregiver is to complete their COVID-19 quiz and certification is to be completed and sent to the caregiver.

Caregiver will be delegated and fitted for face masks/N95 by clinical manager (Sonia)

Caregivers will be informed when clients are symptomatic, isolated or tested Positive for COVID-19

Office Precautions:

Office staff is to limit capacity to only 5 people

When staff arrives into the office or any caregivers to pick up supplies, they are to have their temperature taken (temporal or tympanic), hand sanitize their hands and put on a face mask that is located on the front reception desk

All office staff is to prescreen any caregivers who has come into the office to pick up supplies

(See table 1)

All office employees are to wipe down their office’s including computer keyboards, mouse, desk, cell phones, office phones using Clorox wipes upon arrival.

All office staff is to stay 6 feet away from other employees (social distancing)

All office staff is to participate in wiping and sanitizing the office, including all table surfaces, doorknobs to the offices, office chairs, bathroom and outside/inside of the front door handle prior to and end of shift.

Client Service Manager Precautions during Prospect Consultations:

Client service manager is to prescreen the prospect via phone call prior to consultation visit (See Table 2)

Client service manager is to wash hands prior to and end of consultation

Client service manager to ensure to out on a mask prior to entering the prospects home

Client service manager is to sanitize Home Care assistance consultation form/package, pens that was used during consultation and wipe down our black bag used to keep consultation packages using Clorox wipes

Company Vehicle:

Office staff is to wipe down company vehicle before and after using the vehicle, wiping down includes but not limited to; steering wheel, radio buttons, automatic stick, door handles inside/outside, driver’s seat and seat belts.

Home Care Assistance Goals;

To purchase the COVID-19 Kit that can test all employees and clients within 15-20 minutes

To keep up with PPE supplies and ensuring there is enough inventory in case of client out-break

To ensure effective communication between client’s and caregivers

To ensure all supplies are pre-ordered and caregivers have all the equipment necessary to provide care during COVID-19 pandemic using precautions, E.g. Gloves, face masks hand sanitizer

To keep all employees up to date regarding safety precautions followed and approved by Alberta Health Services Standards

Appendix A & B

Appendix C & D:

Table 1: Caregiver Pre-Screen assessment

Do you have any of the below symptoms;

Table 2: Client/Family Member pre-screen Assessment

Do you have any of the below symptoms;

Fever 38 degree Celsius or greater | YES | NO

Cough

Shortness of Breath

Sore Throat

Runny Nose

Feeling unwell and fatigued

Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea

Have you, or anyone in your household travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days?

Have you had close contact (Face to Face contact within 2 meters/6 feet with someone who is ill with cough or fever?

Have you, or anyone in your household been in contact in the last 14 days with someone who is being investigated or confirmed to be a case of COVID-19?

Symptoms | YES | NO

Chills

Muscle Aches

Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea

Feeling unwell/Fatigued

Headache

Have you, or anyone in your household travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days?

Have you had close contact (Face to Face contact within 2 meters/6 feet with someone who is ill with cough or fever?

Have you, or anyone in your household been in contact in the last 14 days with someone who is being investigated or confirmed to be a case of COVID-19?

Any New onset atypical symptoms including but not limited to; | YES | NO

Fever 37.8 degree Celsius or higher

Cough

Shortness of Breath

Runny nose or Sneezing

Nasal Congestion

Hoarse Voice

Sore Throat

Difficulty Swallowing