COVID-19: Oceana County Medical Care Facility is open for visitation
Effective Friday, November 19, Oceana County MCF will allow indoor visitation for all residents as permitted under the (Nursing Home) regulations. Nursing facilities can no longer limit the frequency of visits, length of visits, number of visitors, or require advance scheduling of visits. Part of the responsibility CMS places on nursing homes is to educate residents, staff and families and other visitors on the associated risks of COVID-19 and provide instruction on the proper core principles of infection control practices in order to mitigate the risk of virus transmission.
While relaxing visitation restrictions, we remain committed to follow proper principles of infection control for the safely of our residents, staff and visitors. During “outbreak” status within the facility (meaning that there has been a recent positive test from a resident or staff), or when the County that the facility is located in, is at a Substantial or High transmission level, it is especially important to adhere to these practices and principles to keep everyone safe.
The bullet points below summarize the new guidance that will be in effect:
- Visitation will be permitted indoors in resident rooms and designated visitation areas, outdoors as whether permits in designated courtyards and patios. During outbreak investigations visitation will also be permitted, however, there is a higher risk to contact a COVID-19 infection.
- All visitors will be screened upon entering the Facility. Those with COVID-19 symptoms or active infection will be excluded from visiting the Facility.
- Visits will be conducted in a manner that adheres to the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention and does not increase risk to other residents. This includes, but not limited to, visitor screening, hand hygiene, source control (face mask), physical distancing and limiting visitor movement. Visitors who are unable to adhere to these principles of COVID-19 infection prevention will not be permitted to visit or will be asked to leave.
- Visitors will go directly to their resident’s room or designated visitation area. Visitors will refrain from loitering in Facility hallways and or socializing with other residents other than their loved-one.
- COVID-19 testing are available for visitors
- Unvaccinated residents that choose to leave the Facility may be placed in quarantine and subject to COVID-19 testing upon return based on risk as determined by the Facility
- Visitors are at risk of contracting COVID-19 virus which may cause mild to severe illness and in some cases even death
- Please contact the facility if you should develop COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days of visiting the Facility
We are grateful that families and residents can resume more normal visitations. While we acknowledge there are still risks associated with visitation within the current COVID-19 environment, the risks are reduced by adhering to the core principles of infection prevention. Visitors, residents and their representative should be aware of those potential risk for visitations and take the necessary precautions. The positivity rate in our county remain at a high level and we are experiencing positive COVID tests among staff on a relatively regular basis.
Please call us at (231) 873-6600 for additional information. Once again, we all thank you for your continued patience and understanding as, together, we work to keep our residents and staff members as safe as possible.
Sincerely,
Kory Hansen, NHA
Administrator