COVID-19 | North Valley Nursing Center

Response to COVID-19

Our top priority has and always will be the safety and wellbeing of our residents and employees. We are doing everything we can to limit the spread of COVID-19 by maintaining close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking all the appropriate steps under the current circumstances.

We aspire to be the leader in skilled nursing innovation and dedication to safety and quality of services. Our firm goal is to restore the confidence of employees, residents, family members, and the communities we serve. We know that fear can be a terrible barrier to residents seeking the wellness they need and employees performing their best work. We can’t guarantee that we won’t have instances of illness, as this is a global problem affecting all communities, but we can take steps that will increase the safety of the environment. We are pursuing activities that will reduce the frequency, severity, and impact of infectious diseases.

We will continue forward, forging our own path. We have identified organizational goals that will be unique and exceed industry standards. We believe these initiatives will be very effective and will strive to make every facility as safe as possible.

FAQs

What ongoing clinical practices are in place to prevent infection?

• All employees and residents are assessed every shift for symptoms.
• Hand hygiene observations are being conducted to prevent any transmission.
• Staff members are expected to use personal protective equipment throughout their shift.
• Additional sanitizing stations have been installed for our guests and employees.
• In both public spaces and patient rooms, surfaces are thoroughly treated with hospital-grade disinfectants with increased frequency.
• We have begun a decolonization activity like nasal betadine swabbing.
• Staff are screened at least monthly for COVID.

Do staff members have the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)—e.g., masks, gowns, gloves—that they need?

Our team has worked around the clock to acquire appropriate PPE and implemented PPE optimization strategies based on CDC Guidelines. All employees have been trained on how to properly use PPE.

What are you doing to help residents stay connected with their families or other loved ones during this time?

We work with each of the residents and their families to establish a convenient method of communication with their loved ones.

What is the plan to communicate important information to both residents and families on a regular basis?

Families are notified by phone when/if an employee or patient is confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 or when there has been a change in condition for the resident.

Are you fully staffed?

The facilities have and will continue to staff according to the guidelines and criteria provided by the state.

Our response is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19.

ENVIRONMENT

Facility cleanliness is the foundation of infection prevention (IP). We have assembled a dedicated Sun Mar Environmental Strike Team. This team will assist and ensure that all facilities conduct thorough and consistent deep cleaning on a routine basis, including the application of a new weapon in our IP arsenal: Shield, a CDC-approved, invisible surface coating that prevents pathogens from existing on surfaces for at least 90 days. Places like the Pentagon, the Mayo Clinic, and other leading institutions have been using it safely and effectively, and now it’s our turn. The leader of this team is a COVID survivor with a passion for this project! He understands his job is to save lives.

EDUCATION

We were recently invited to participate in the first research study with the University of CA Irvine on infection prevention, examining healthcare worker hygiene habits. We subsequently created a new Regional Clinical Operator, who will guide and direct the infection prevention clinicians that we already have in position.

We are proud of our affiliation with a leading infectious disease expert to advise us during this pandemic: Dr. James A. McKinnell from Expert Stewardship. He has published over 40 papers, many focusing on optimal uses of antibiotics and how we can better understand antimicrobial resistance in our communities. Dr. McKinnell has worked with skilled nursing facilities in Los Angeles and Orange County on practical strategies of infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.

TECHNOLOGY

We are determined to invest in any weapons that will help us in this war, including the brand new Halosil—another CDC-approved application that is the most effective whole-room disinfection technology available on the market today. The device generates a fog of hydrogen peroxide and silver that permeates a space and kills microorganisms that exist there. This ensures comprehensive and uniform coverage for the entire room. Guests can be at peace knowing each room gets the “fog” treatment following every discharge and prior to any new admission.

Several years ago, we introduced a new technology into our laundering practice called LUX, which uses hydroxyls, ozone, and peroxide in a way that is 500 times more powerful than hot water and bleach. As powerful as it is, it naturally dissipates back into pure oxygen in seven minutes during the wash cycle. It’s an FDA-approved sanitizer and USDA-certified organic.

We will continue to work with some manufacturers on unique products that use UV and white light “kill boxes” that circulate ambient air through fan fixtures, purifying air on a continuous basis.

Lastly, the newly adopted DocuSign will allow us to quickly and conveniently execute the admission forms, signatures, and notes. Say goodbye to clipboards and hello to a more improved and convenient admission process.