At Peak Healthcare, we believe that effective communication is an important part of containing the virus. We update employees, patients, and families with both the latest in preventative measures as well as actual cases in our center. This is our effort to also update the communities we serve. These restrictions will continue to change as we are able to test more patients and residents.
Peak Healthcare facilities have been able to obtain and use resources and expertise to help mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. We must begin by acknowledging and thanking our employees, who are going above and beyond to compassionately care for patients and residents in this unprecedented health crisis impacting the world. They truly are our helpful, caring and responsive health care heroes.
Our centers acted early to restrict access to the facility, currently require universal masking for our direct caregivers, provide isolation units for those patients or residents with or suspected to have novel coronavirus, and implemented infection control processes based on the CDC’s recommendations. Depending on the supply of testing kits and the recommendation of local officials, we are able to test those without any symptoms in some locations. Our efforts will continue until the pandemic is contained. We are in very close communication with our medical director, clinical support team, and local and state health officials about the appropriate steps to serve the best interests of our patients, residents, employees and visitors. We instruct our staff, patients and residents to follow recommended preventative actions. Regardless of whether we have a positive case, are concerned about a patients’ risk, are helping a patient recover from a novel coronavirus related hospital stay or are assisting patients returning from the hospital for other needs, we have systems in place to protect and care for our patients and residents.
During this unprecedented time, our commitment to families of patients and residents, as always, is to provide timely and accurate information COVID-19 information for our facilities by phone calls, letters, and by updating our website, which will be updated daily at this time.
Our dedicated health care team will keep you updated and connected with your loved one via skype, facetime calls, phone calls, window visits or cards and notes.
UPDATE** Please click here to read more about the COVID vaccinations and what Peak Healthcare is doing to protect staff and your loved ones from this illness,
Peak Healthcare facilities have been able to obtain and use resources and expertise to help mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. We must begin by acknowledging and thanking our employees, who are going above and beyond to compassionately care for patients and residents in this unprecedented health crisis impacting the world. They truly are our helpful, caring and responsive health care heroes.
Our centers acted early to restrict access to the facility, currently require universal masking for our direct caregivers, provide isolation units for those patients or residents with or suspected to have novel coronavirus, and implemented infection control processes based on the CDC’s recommendations. Depending on the supply of testing kits and the recommendation of local officials, we are able to test those without any symptoms in some locations. Our efforts will continue until the pandemic is contained. We are in very close communication with our medical director, clinical support team, and local and state health officials about the appropriate steps to serve the best interests of our patients, residents, employees and visitors. We instruct our staff, patients and residents to follow recommended preventative actions. Regardless of whether we have a positive case, are concerned about a patients’ risk, are helping a patient recover from a novel coronavirus related hospital stay or are assisting patients returning from the hospital for other needs, we have systems in place to protect and care for our patients and residents.
During this unprecedented time, our commitment to families of patients and residents, as always, is to provide timely and accurate information COVID-19 information for our facilities by phone calls, letters, and by updating our website, which will be updated daily at this time.
Our dedicated health care team will keep you updated and connected with your loved one via skype, facetime calls, phone calls, window visits or cards and notes.
UPDATE** Please click here to read more about the COVID vaccinations and what Peak Healthcare is doing to protect staff and your loved ones from this illness,
COVID Update as of 04/29/2021
Dear Family and Friends,
We understand the huge toll that separation has taken on our residents and families. We are excited to let you know that our Peak Healthcare-affiliated facilities will now allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), with the exception of the scenarios listed below. We do ask that you call to schedule a time so we can ensure your loved one is available for the visit. CMS, the federal agency that regulates nursing centers, has updated its visitation guidance due to high resident vaccination rates and a drop in COVID-19 cases around the country. The following are the scenarios where indoor visits would not permitted per CMS:
We are working with our pharmacy partners to ensure there are additional vaccinations available for our newly admitted residents, as well as our new employees, to continue to keep all our residents as safe as possible. Thank you for your continued support during this very difficult pandemic. We are excited to begin welcoming you back into our Centers. You can find out the community rate by clicking here.
We understand the huge toll that separation has taken on our residents and families. We are excited to let you know that our Peak Healthcare-affiliated facilities will now allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), with the exception of the scenarios listed below. We do ask that you call to schedule a time so we can ensure your loved one is available for the visit. CMS, the federal agency that regulates nursing centers, has updated its visitation guidance due to high resident vaccination rates and a drop in COVID-19 cases around the country. The following are the scenarios where indoor visits would not permitted per CMS:
- If a nursing home is currently in outbreak status or the local jurisdiction is at 10% positivity or greater, then indoor visitation is suspended except for compassionate care visits. Each facility individually determines requests for compassionate care visits.
- Additionally, if the local jurisdiction is within 5-10% positivity, each nursing home must restrict the number of indoor visitors to no more than 5% of the total residents at the facility at any one time. And, if a local jurisdiction is below 5% positivity, nursing homes must continue to implement Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance on visitation (QSO-20-39-NH).
- Either MDH or a local health department may direct a facility to a more restrictive set of conditions at any point.
- Assisted living programs are reminded that indoor visitation is not permitted if the facility is currently conducting outbreak testing in accordance with federal guidance on this subject.
- Any facility may implement additional visitation restrictions, to include the number of individuals allowed in the facility at any given time or visitor testing, on a facility-specific basis given each facility’s circumstances and infection control guidelines.
We are working with our pharmacy partners to ensure there are additional vaccinations available for our newly admitted residents, as well as our new employees, to continue to keep all our residents as safe as possible. Thank you for your continued support during this very difficult pandemic. We are excited to begin welcoming you back into our Centers. You can find out the community rate by clicking here.
From the CDC
COVID-19 cases have been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and multiple U.S. territories; many having wide-spread community transmission. Given the high risk of spread once COVID-19 enters a LTCF, facilities must act immediately to protect residents, families, and staff from serious illness, complications, and death.
Strategies include recommendations to:
• Keep COVID-19 from entering your facility
• Identify infections early
• Prevent spread of COVID-19
• Assess supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and initiate measures to optimize current supply
• Identify and manage severe illness
Authorized visitors and employees are screened daily for:
• Confirmation of positive COVID-19 test
• Exposure to positive COVID-19 case
• International travel
• Cruise ship travel
• Unexplained fever > 100.0° F within the last 14 days
• A diagnosis of pneumonia or lower respiratory tract infection of unexplained etiology in the last 14 days
• Any other possible signs and symptoms identified by the CDC as possible symptoms
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html
Strategies include recommendations to:
• Keep COVID-19 from entering your facility
• Identify infections early
• Prevent spread of COVID-19
• Assess supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and initiate measures to optimize current supply
• Identify and manage severe illness
Authorized visitors and employees are screened daily for:
• Confirmation of positive COVID-19 test
• Exposure to positive COVID-19 case
• International travel
• Cruise ship travel
• Unexplained fever > 100.0° F within the last 14 days
• A diagnosis of pneumonia or lower respiratory tract infection of unexplained etiology in the last 14 days
• Any other possible signs and symptoms identified by the CDC as possible symptoms
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html
Reporting Regulations for Nursing Facilities
After shocking instances of nursing homes failing to disclose the existence and extent of COVID-19 cases within their facilities, the federal government will require nursing homes to inform residents, their families and representatives when residents or staff contract the illness.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that notification must come within 12 hours of a confirmed single case of COVID-19. Residents, families and representatives must also be told when three or more individuals develop respiratory symptoms within a 72-hour period. The new rules also require nursing homes to report COVID-19 cases directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the CDC works to build a nationwide database of the occurrence of the illness. Nursing homes are already required to report such data to state and local public health officials.
"Nursing homes have been ground zero for COVID-19," Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma said in a statement announcing the new rules, which she described as an effort to provide "transparent and timely information to residents and their families."
The new rules also require nursing homes to detail measures the facility is taking to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Outbreaks and deaths from COVID-19 have occurred at nursing homes across the country, which house among the most vulnerable of high-risk individuals.
For the most up to date information about COVID-19, please refer to the CDC's website by clicking here.
Other resources: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that notification must come within 12 hours of a confirmed single case of COVID-19. Residents, families and representatives must also be told when three or more individuals develop respiratory symptoms within a 72-hour period. The new rules also require nursing homes to report COVID-19 cases directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the CDC works to build a nationwide database of the occurrence of the illness. Nursing homes are already required to report such data to state and local public health officials.
"Nursing homes have been ground zero for COVID-19," Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma said in a statement announcing the new rules, which she described as an effort to provide "transparent and timely information to residents and their families."
The new rules also require nursing homes to detail measures the facility is taking to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Outbreaks and deaths from COVID-19 have occurred at nursing homes across the country, which house among the most vulnerable of high-risk individuals.
For the most up to date information about COVID-19, please refer to the CDC's website by clicking here.
Other resources: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates
Maryland Department of Health's Action in Skilled Nursing Facilities
In March, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) issued Recommendations for Infection Control and Prevention of COVID-19 in Facilities Serving Older Adults and guidance for Preparing for and Responding to COVID-19 in Long-term Care and Assisted Living Facilities.
In response to increasing cases of COVID-19 in Maryland’s nursing facilities, Governor Larry Hogan issued his first executive order specific to nursing homes and other health care facilities on April 5. The order authorized MDH to take any action necessary to protect Maryland’s most vulnerable population from the virus.
This order was amended and superseded by the April 29 order. These orders created a framework of support for nursing homes and other health care facilities, along with new requirements, aimed at protecting residents and staff.
Currently, the following directives and orders from the Maryland Department of Health are in effect:
In response to increasing cases of COVID-19 in Maryland’s nursing facilities, Governor Larry Hogan issued his first executive order specific to nursing homes and other health care facilities on April 5. The order authorized MDH to take any action necessary to protect Maryland’s most vulnerable population from the virus.
This order was amended and superseded by the April 29 order. These orders created a framework of support for nursing homes and other health care facilities, along with new requirements, aimed at protecting residents and staff.
Currently, the following directives and orders from the Maryland Department of Health are in effect:
MDH COVIDLINK
The following links will take you directly to each section:
FAQs about COVID-19
FAQs about the Maryland COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and COVID-19 Vaccination
– Trending Questions and Answers
– COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
– COVID-19 Vaccines
– Registering for a COVID-19 Vaccine
– Mass Vaccination Site Pre-registration
– Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccine
– Why GoVAX?
– Post COVID-19 Vaccination
FAQs about Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for COVID-19
FAQs about COVID-19 and Older Adults
FAQs about Testing
– After the Test
FAQs about Contact Tracing
FAQs about MD COVID Alert
– Specifics on Exposure Notifications
– Technical
FAQs about Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Congregate Living Facility Orders and Support Efforts
FAQs about Mental Health, Stress and Anxiety
– For Parents of Young Children
– For Adolescents and Young Adults
– For Healthcare Workers
– For Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities
FAQs about Isolation and Quarantine
FAQs about Telehealth
If you have questions about COVID-19 that are not answered here, call your local health department or dial 2-1-1.
The following links will take you directly to each section:
FAQs about COVID-19
FAQs about the Maryland COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and COVID-19 Vaccination
– Trending Questions and Answers
– COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
– COVID-19 Vaccines
– Registering for a COVID-19 Vaccine
– Mass Vaccination Site Pre-registration
– Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccine
– Why GoVAX?
– Post COVID-19 Vaccination
FAQs about Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for COVID-19
FAQs about COVID-19 and Older Adults
FAQs about Testing
– After the Test
FAQs about Contact Tracing
FAQs about MD COVID Alert
– Specifics on Exposure Notifications
– Technical
FAQs about Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Congregate Living Facility Orders and Support Efforts
FAQs about Mental Health, Stress and Anxiety
– For Parents of Young Children
– For Adolescents and Young Adults
– For Healthcare Workers
– For Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities
FAQs about Isolation and Quarantine
FAQs about Telehealth
If you have questions about COVID-19 that are not answered here, call your local health department or dial 2-1-1.
Peak Healthcare & COVID 19
