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Ok folks, I'm now tuned into the second @NYGH_News Town Hall for #TendercareLTC.
p.s. Families are STILL waiting for the list of unanswered questions family raised from last weeks town hall..
Ok folks, I'm now tuned into the second @NYGH_News Town Hall for #TendercareLTC.
p.s. Families are STILL waiting for the list of unanswered questions family raised from last weeks town hall..
First Presenter: President/CEO of @NYGH_News.
Expresses condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.
Came in 16 days ago to provide help. Will be there for a 90-day period.
Expresses condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.
Came in 16 days ago to provide help. Will be there for a 90-day period.
Second/Third Presenter: Susan Kwolek and Dr. Katz.
Two Extendicare reps are also in attendance (Susan Loft/Karyn Popyvich).
Two Extendicare reps are also in attendance (Susan Loft/Karyn Popyvich).
Susan Kwolek updates:
-Staffing updates:
They have staffed "above baseline" since Jan 1
**Baseline =1 RN/RPN and 5-7 PSWs per unit.
****Admits staffing has been a challenge and have had to rely on agency staffing.
-Staffing updates:
They have staffed "above baseline" since Jan 1
**Baseline =1 RN/RPN and 5-7 PSWs per unit.
****Admits staffing has been a challenge and have had to rely on agency staffing.
Susan cont:
Have implemented IPAC training to staff (FINALLY)
RE: VACCINATIONS: Will likely begin later in the week, likely on Sunday.
RE: Specialized care centres: Family have yet to transfer any residents to that centre but "the option is still there"
Have implemented IPAC training to staff (FINALLY)
RE: VACCINATIONS: Will likely begin later in the week, likely on Sunday.
RE: Specialized care centres: Family have yet to transfer any residents to that centre but "the option is still there"
RE: Allowing food in from the outside:
They are "thinking about" allowing it (huh?) but don't want to waste staff resources 'running to front door' (ps. That does not sound comforting from a staffing perspective).
They are "thinking about" allowing it (huh?) but don't want to waste staff resources 'running to front door' (ps. That does not sound comforting from a staffing perspective).
RE: Cannot give info. to families unless you are POA. Must have POA call in for updates.
RE: 1-888 # for families:
-They are getting 50-60 calls/emails per day. Susan can assure families that those emails/calls are being responded to w/n 24 hrs (FAMILIES IS THIS TRUE?)
RE: 1-888 # for families:
-They are getting 50-60 calls/emails per day. Susan can assure families that those emails/calls are being responded to w/n 24 hrs (FAMILIES IS THIS TRUE?)
RE: NEWSLETTERS
Used to be daily, now shifting to weekly.
RE: ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS
**They are allegedly NOT ALLOWED TO ADMIT CAREGIVERS IN LOCKDOWN REGION????? HUH.
Now she is saying that essential caregivers may come in AFTER TRAINING? This is SO confusing.
Used to be daily, now shifting to weekly.
RE: ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS
**They are allegedly NOT ALLOWED TO ADMIT CAREGIVERS IN LOCKDOWN REGION????? HUH.
Now she is saying that essential caregivers may come in AFTER TRAINING? This is SO confusing.
RE: VISITORS
**I think she confused "general visitor" with "Essential caregiver"??
RE: THE NUMBERS/RESIDENTS
- 7 new resident cases, 6 new staff cases
- had not swabbed for 5-6 days so this was expected?
**I think she confused "general visitor" with "Essential caregiver"??
RE: THE NUMBERS/RESIDENTS
- 7 new resident cases, 6 new staff cases
- had not swabbed for 5-6 days so this was expected?
RE: NUMBERS/RESIDENTS
-88 cases resolved
71 DEATHS!!! (MORE!!!)
-88 cases resolved
71 DEATHS!!! (MORE!!!)
ASIDE (From me).
THIS IS NOW THE WORST MASS CASUALTY LTC EVENT IN ONTARIO.
NO MILTARY AID SENT IN!!!
THIS IS NOW THE WORST MASS CASUALTY LTC EVENT IN ONTARIO.
NO MILTARY AID SENT IN!!!
OK back to live tweeting:
RE: NUMBERS/RESIDENTS
**188 cumulative cases since beginning of outbreak
*****39 staff have returned to work.
RE: NUMBERS/RESIDENTS
**188 cumulative cases since beginning of outbreak
*****39 staff have returned to work.
RE: Resident/Family Concerns
**All covid + and - residents have NOW been separated.
**Are only doing in-room dining (no congregate care dining for forseeable future).
***She (Susan) knows family want to bring in food that residents like and they will be "working on that"
**All covid + and - residents have NOW been separated.
**Are only doing in-room dining (no congregate care dining for forseeable future).
***She (Susan) knows family want to bring in food that residents like and they will be "working on that"
RE: CLEANING
*Continue to rigorously clean
**When they have to move residents in order to do these deep cleanses, they will try to minimize the time this takes.
****They have had to move POS/NEG residents to cohort and won't move them back to original rooms until outbreak is over
*Continue to rigorously clean
**When they have to move residents in order to do these deep cleanses, they will try to minimize the time this takes.
****They have had to move POS/NEG residents to cohort and won't move them back to original rooms until outbreak is over
RE: WARD ROOMS
-trying to minimize the # of ward rooms and are working towards SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS only (2 to a room).
((umm))
-trying to minimize the # of ward rooms and are working towards SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS only (2 to a room).
((umm))
Now we are onto Dr. Katz:
He will be brief so there can be more Q&A (will only show 2 slides).
Slide 1: Is about covid incubation periods and period of communicability.
He will be brief so there can be more Q&A (will only show 2 slides).
Slide 1: Is about covid incubation periods and period of communicability.
RE: Dr. Katz recap
Slide 2: VACCINATION
**ongoing effort to vaccinate staff outside of LTC homes using Pfizer (talks freezers...come on WE HAVE DRY ICE!)
****Will aim to vaccinate residents + staff + essential caregivers in next FEW WEEKS????
Slide 2: VACCINATION
**ongoing effort to vaccinate staff outside of LTC homes using Pfizer (talks freezers...come on WE HAVE DRY ICE!)
****Will aim to vaccinate residents + staff + essential caregivers in next FEW WEEKS????
RE: VACCINATION
* requires consent to get the vaccine
**Vaccine efficacy = 95%
***Repeats the ON Gov. (yesterday release) goal to vaccinate residents in hot spots by Jan 21.
* requires consent to get the vaccine
**Vaccine efficacy = 95%
***Repeats the ON Gov. (yesterday release) goal to vaccinate residents in hot spots by Jan 21.
!!! FAMILY Q&A TIME !!!!
Q1. Many family have found that video chatting during meal time is effective in helping to get residents eat, so can you get more workers/IPADs to facilitate this?
A1: Let them know and they will try
Q1. Many family have found that video chatting during meal time is effective in helping to get residents eat, so can you get more workers/IPADs to facilitate this?
A1: Let them know and they will try
!!! FAMILY Q&A TIME !!!!
Q2. Can you hire an IV nurse for on-site?
A: They can do this in the home...there are other ways to hydrate resident (Ummm so are residents not properly hydrated????) so she (Susuan) does not think this is necessary.
Q2. Can you hire an IV nurse for on-site?
A: They can do this in the home...there are other ways to hydrate resident (Ummm so are residents not properly hydrated????) so she (Susuan) does not think this is necessary.
!!! FAMILY Q&A TIME !!!!
Q3. Can you get an herbal specialist volunteer into the home?
A. No. They do not know what is in all these natural medicines and how they may interact with existing meds. Also, they are not letting in volunteers.
Q3. Can you get an herbal specialist volunteer into the home?
A. No. They do not know what is in all these natural medicines and how they may interact with existing meds. Also, they are not letting in volunteers.
!!! FAMILY Q&A TIME !!!!
Q4: What further health measures can you take to make sure no more residents get COVID for the next few months?
A: Right now they are focusing on ending the outbreak. Going forward, must try better to limit it from getting in via staff screening etc.,
Q4: What further health measures can you take to make sure no more residents get COVID for the next few months?
A: Right now they are focusing on ending the outbreak. Going forward, must try better to limit it from getting in via staff screening etc.,
Q4.Answer cont:
-Better cleaning, better PPE doning on/off, can also help, vaccinations etc.,
Q5: If residents have no symptoms, how contagious are they?
A: Asymptomatic residents/staff are less contagious but can still spread COVID.
-Better cleaning, better PPE doning on/off, can also help, vaccinations etc.,
Q5: If residents have no symptoms, how contagious are they?
A: Asymptomatic residents/staff are less contagious but can still spread COVID.
Q6: What is procedure for consenting to vaccination?
A: There is a ministry form you must fill out. They are "ready to roll" and start vaccinating on Sunday.
A: There is a ministry form you must fill out. They are "ready to roll" and start vaccinating on Sunday.
Q7: Will a doctor be reviewing my loved ones medical history before getting the vaccine?
A: Dr. Katz says vaccinating doctors will have residents charts and they will know if a resident is on certain drugs (eg for muscle relaxants etc.,) pre-shot.
A: Dr. Katz says vaccinating doctors will have residents charts and they will know if a resident is on certain drugs (eg for muscle relaxants etc.,) pre-shot.
Q8: Are you also testing for the NEW UK/SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT? (GREAT Q)
A: He says those variants will simply show up as positive as well...but have had small mutations and only way to detect if the new variant is present= genome sequencing and they aren't doing it en masse.
A: He says those variants will simply show up as positive as well...but have had small mutations and only way to detect if the new variant is present= genome sequencing and they aren't doing it en masse.
Q8: Cont.
He says the variant just means you will have a higher viral load and are more contagious if you get it.
He says the variant just means you will have a higher viral load and are more contagious if you get it.
Q9: You mentioned Tendercare will convert to semi private rooms...will this mean that the home will now operate at half capacity going forward?
A: It will but not by half (says Susan). Extendicaire cannot confirm either.
Umm ok
A: It will but not by half (says Susan). Extendicaire cannot confirm either.
Umm ok
Q10. Are all residents being vaccinated this weekend?
A: Residents that are SICK WILL BE DEFERRED....those residents/staff who have recovered (or who never became infected) WILL GET IT.
A: Residents that are SICK WILL BE DEFERRED....those residents/staff who have recovered (or who never became infected) WILL GET IT.
Q11: Can you please share your strategy in providing psychological support to residents?
A: They are using current staff to provide that support "while they are in their room". Once we are out of the outbreak and allow people in (HUH), then they will consider getting more help.
A: They are using current staff to provide that support "while they are in their room". Once we are out of the outbreak and allow people in (HUH), then they will consider getting more help.
Q12: How are you making sure agency staff are adhering to IPAC processes?
A: Dr. Katz: Nobody wants to do harm but its not always easy to do it 100% right all the time...they try to monitor and enforce but things are never perfect (??).
A: Dr. Katz: Nobody wants to do harm but its not always easy to do it 100% right all the time...they try to monitor and enforce but things are never perfect (??).
Q12 cont:
*Their "swat teams" help to increase IPAC efficacy etc.,
**Have also begun to train "IPAC Champions" who are frontline staff at the home to keep an eye out for staff not adhering to IPAC.
***They do not let new workers to come in w/o being oriented to IPAC.
*Their "swat teams" help to increase IPAC efficacy etc.,
**Have also begun to train "IPAC Champions" who are frontline staff at the home to keep an eye out for staff not adhering to IPAC.
***They do not let new workers to come in w/o being oriented to IPAC.
FINAL QUESTION:
How do you define when an outbreak is over?
A: They'll wait for an entire incubation period to go by w/ no new cases. Note: Reminds us that even if this outbreak is declared over....no guarantee there won't be another thanks to high community transmission.
How do you define when an outbreak is over?
A: They'll wait for an entire incubation period to go by w/ no new cases. Note: Reminds us that even if this outbreak is declared over....no guarantee there won't be another thanks to high community transmission.
OK THAT'S ALL FOLKS.
Hope it was helpful.
Now I am going to bed!
Hope it was helpful.
Now I am going to bed!
