Change to Covid Questionaires

God is good! It’s an exciting day in Michigan as we rejoice in the progress the state has made in controlling the Covid 19 virus. As you have probably heard, the Governor has lifted all state restrictions effective June 17,2021.

Governor’s Statement

Excerpt from the Governor’s letter: The introduction of highly effective and safe COVID-19 vaccines and the warmer weather have greatly reduced the spread of COVID-19 across the United States. An increasing number and volume of therapeutics are also available, such as monoclonal antibodies, which can help to reduce the severity of COVID-19 cases. Considering the above, and upon the advice of scientific and medical experts, I have concluded that although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to constitute an epidemic in Michigan, certain protective measures and requirements can be lifted at this time. I therefore order that the following Emergency Orders be rescinded effective June 22, 2021, at 12:01 AM: …”

What does this mean to healthcare providers?

As exciting as this is to us personally, professionally we have extra guidelines we have to follow. The CDC guidelines still require that we wear PPE when we are within 6 feet of our clients, even if both of you have been vaccinated.

Covid Questionnaires Changing

While we cannot change the CDC guidelines, MSC has made the decision to reduce the frequency that we ask you about your exposure to Covid. The caregiver questionnaire that is completed during the first shift of the day, has been changed to only be completed one time a week.

The Covid exposure questionnaire that you complete for every client is being turned off.

Neither of these changes represent a change in our policies regarding managing the risk of Covid and your responsibilities. You are required to ask your unvaccinated clients about their potential exposure at each shift and, if you are unvaccinated, you need to notify the office prior to beginning work if you meet any of the exposure conditions.

God has been good to our agency during Covid. We continue to pray for the safety of all of you and our seniors. A key part of staying safe is full vaccination. If you have not advised the office yet of your vaccination, please make sure you do that this week. We do pay you for an hour of your time for going to get it done. If you haven’t yet been vaccinated, we encourage you to consider the value of the vaccination to you and your community.

Announcing changes to our WorkSafe Program - June 1

We are making changes to our employee safety procedures and adding a couple of steps that will work together to ensure you have a safe shift and all concerns or issues are answered promptly.

Home Safety Assessment

First, we have a new home inspection process that we are implementing. Our Care Coordinators will now store their Home Safety Checks online for future access in the event of a question regarding a home and for sharing any special considerations prior to a caregiver being assigned a new client.

Shift Check Out

Shift Check Out will also now ask you how your shift went. There will be two parts to the new check out routine.

• Caregivers will need to indicate if they had an injury-free visit at the end of every shift.

• Caregivers will also answer questions regarding any change in condition of the client.

Frontline caregivers play a critical role in monitoring, reporting, and preventing serious complications among patients with chronic conditions. Change in Condition leverages the protocol developed by Harvard Medical School and provides better visibility into your clients' conditions. We will work with the family once you notify us of your observations to prevent the condition or issue from becoming worse - or better yet work to prevent avoidable hospitalizations.

Return-to-Work Program

If you do have an injury during a shift, we will refer you to the closest Occupational Health Center at Spectrum for treatment. The new WorkSafe procedures also include a return-to-work program to make sure the right steps are followed before you are placed back into a home.

You will see the new Check Out steps starting on June 1. As always, thank you for your amazing work.

Get Vaccinated, Get Back to Normal

Get the vaccine to get rid of the mask outside of work. That’s right the CDC has announced that after getting fully vaccinated it is safe enough to go about your daily life without a mask. For the full break down click the link to see what they believe is now safe for those with both doses of their Vaccinations.

We highly recommend looking it over, because there will be places that require you to wear a mask, and we don’t want anyone caught unaware.

CDC Website

While our personal lives have take a giant leap forward, as Home Aides we are under the CDC guidelines for Healthcare Professionals. The CDC guidelines for PPE have NOT changed for healthcare professionals. We still need to use appropriate PPE in all situations, which specifically includes masks.

For those who aren’t vaccinated yet, remain diligent and keep safe. We will also link some sites where you can schedule a vaccination for yourself.

Kent County Vaccination Resource

Get your phone to work for you--

At this point in my life I know I won’t ever be a technology wizard. I was happy with my blackberry in 2006, where did those go?

Now with so much crazy technology I can get lost in my phone for hours and never get anything done. But, with all the complaints I can make about my smart phone, there are so many easy quick tools that once I figured them out I started to see their appeal. I thought I would share with you a website that helped me figure several things out.

Techboomers is a free educational website that teaches older adults how to handle technology. They have tons of in depth tutorials, but if you just want to learn how to copy text they can help teach you that too. I encourage everyone to take a minute and go to their website.

Just think of a question you have about your device, and enter it in the search bar at the top.

Here’s a link, go take a look and have fun and hopefully make your life a little easier.