COVID-19 update September 17, 2023

Recent COVID Data

Information on Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine

How We Are Responding to COVID-19

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Queens Nassau Rehabilitation & Nursing Center has employed a number of measures recommended by the NYS Department of Health (DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to best protect the health and safety of our staff and residents:

  • Visitation ongoing.
  •  Vaccination Clinic – held at Queens Nassau every 14 days for any Residents & Staff that would like to get vaccinated. Please call Social Service or Nursing Supervisor to let us know ASAP. The next one scheduled is August 8, 2022. Fact sheets and all information on benefits & possible side effects are available. Please request them.
  • Call Social Services for end-of-life, medically necessary, or Compassionate Care visitation.

Visitation Guidance:

  • Visitors agree that they will report any positive COVID-19 test or symptoms that occur 48 hours after visit.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Hand sanitizer will be used before and after the visit and as needed.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home if you are sick.
  • Visitors & residents if tolerated must wear a facemask or face covering and will be provided a mask if they do not have one.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Remember to maintain social distancing precautions of at least 6 feet.
  • Visitors must sign in and will be screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 prior to visit.
  • Visitors are not permitted to walk throughout the facility and must stay in the designated visiting areas.
  • Visitors 16 & under must be accompanied by an adult 18 & over.
  • Visitors are strongly advised to bring a Negative COVID test within 72 hours of visit and/or be vaccinated.
  • Visitors will be provided Covid testing kit as required by DOH.
  • If any visitor fails to adhere to the protocol, he/she/they will be prohibited from visiting for the duration of the COVID-19 state-declared public health emergency.
  • If you have questions, please contact- Social Services -718-471-7400 Ext.116.

Policy and Procedure: Covid Reporting/Notification to Residents and Families During the Covid-19 Pandemic

F Tag: F885

Administrative Policy and Procedure Subject: Covid Reporting/Notification to Residents/Families during the Pandemic
Prepared By: Approved by:
Effective: 3/12/2020

Revised: 7-1-22

 Reviewed: 7-1-22

POLICY:

The facility will implement effective, accurate, and frequent communication with residents, family members, and designated representatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PROCEDURE:

  1. The facility will abide by all HIPAA regulations when disseminating information with regard to COVID-19.
  2. Recreation and Social Services will ascertain if alert residents wish to be informed when there has been a Covid-related death involving a resident/peer
  3. Recorded voice messages will be updated as needed to inform residents and representatives of: extension 311 when calling the facility
  • Newly confirmed COVID cases to include staff and residents
  • COVID-related deaths in the facility
  • Newly suspected COVID cases
  • A cluster of 3 or more suspected cases in the past 72 hours
  1. The following mechanisms (not all) will be utilized to inform residents, family members, and designated representatives:
  • Facility Website
  • Facility COVID-19 extension (extension 311)
  • Letters (monthly).
  • Telephone conversations and messages
  • Emails
  • Robocalls
  • Face-to-face meetings with residents using Social Distancing and appropriate PPE

5.    The following information will be disseminated:

  • Any newly confirmed COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours
  • The occurrence of 3 or more residents or staff members with new onset of respiratory symptoms within a 72-hour period
  • The actions that the facility is taking to prevent and/or reduce the risk of transmission
  • Cumulative updates on a weekly basis
  • Deaths in the facility that occurred related to the COVID-19 virus

6.   Incoming calls that are not answered at the unit level will be forwarded to DNS/designee            with instructions to leave a message and a return call will be made before the end of day.

7.   Representatives, and family members provided with direct cell phone number for Director          of Nursing and Administrator as per their request.

8.  Documentation of communication will be made in the Medical Record for each resident in            Progress notes and/or CCP.

9.   Residents, family members, and designated representatives will be offered the opportunity          to connect via facetime or via traditional telephone during all communications. Requests will be forwarded to the Director of Recreation.

REFERENCE

NYSDOH (4/4/2020). Guidance for Resident and Family Communication in Adult Care Facilities and Nursing Homes. https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/04/doh_covid19_acf-nh_residentfamilycommunication_040420.pdf

CMS (5/6/2020). QSO-20-29-NH. Interim Final Rule Updating Requirements for Notification of Confirmed and Suspected Covid-19 cases Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-29-nh.pdf

COMPASSIONATE CARE VISITS

Compassionate Care Visits are permitted when visitation may not otherwise be permitted (in accordance with NYSDOH current visitation guidance), with the requirement of a visitor presenting a negative COVID-19 test prior to commencement of such visit under the following circumstances:

  • Newly admitted residents with difficulty adjusting to the facility environment and lack of in-person family support.
  • Residents recently grieving the loss of a friend or loved one.
  • Residents who previously received in-person support and/or cueing from family for eating and drinking and are now experiencing dehydration and/or weight loss.
  • Residents who are exhibiting signs and symptoms of emotional stress (i.e. seldom speaking or crying more frequently when the resident had rarely cried in the past, refusing to participate in an activity/activities, staying in bed longer than usual, exhibiting behavior considered abnormal for the resident).
  • Residents who receive religious or spiritual support from clergy or another layperson.

The situations above are not intended to be an exhaustive list. Additional companionate care situations may be considered by the facility on a resident-specific basis. Testing to be encouraged/facilitated wherever possible.

END OF LIFE VISITS

For any resident assessed to potentially be at the end-of-life, family/resident representative will be contacted by SW/Designee to allow visitation. Testing is not required for end-of-life visits — the facility will offer POC testing. Family will be screened, provided with PPE and escorted to resident’s room.

MORE INFORMATION:

  • NYC Health COVID-19 data for May 19, 2023 – June 15, 2023 — shows Far Rockaway area at 0.0% positive rate.
  • ALL visitors are strongly advised to get vaccinated & boosted.
  • Visitors will be provided Covid testing kit as required by DOH.
  • Visitors with Covid symptoms will not be permitted to visit.
  • Visitors may be asked for ID as needed.
  • Staff Wearing a face mask: Healthcare personnel & facility staff shall wear a face mask and gloves while within six feet of residents & one another.
  • Limitation of non-emergency offsite appointments: non-medically necessary offsite appointments are canceled to prevent potential for exposure in the community.
  • Staff Health check/screening: All individuals are screened upon entrance to the facility by answering designated questions and a physical temperature check. Any adverse response, fever, or cold symptoms will be addressed accordingly and the individual will not be permitted to remain in the building.
  • Staff Testing: Those staff not considered ‘up to date’ in their vaccinations as defined by DOH will be tested per the requirements dictated by the level of transmission rate in the community.

Executive Order 202.18 — Notification & Communication to Residents! Families
Queens Nassau Rehab & Nursing Center is committed to providing Residents & their next of kin with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) informational updates posted on our website, nursing units, personal updates via telephone, and a designated call-in Covid-19 extension
Executive Order 202.18 issued by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on April 19, 2020, states that all nursing homes licensed by the New York State Commissioner of Health shall notify Residents and next of kin if any resident or staff tests positive for COVID-19 or if any resident or staff suffers a COVID-19 related death, within 24 hours of such positive test result or death.
In accordance with Executive Order 202.18, Queens Nassau will post this information as needed on our website, www.queensnassaurehab.com & on the nursing units. The information will include the number of new COVID-19 positive tests and COVID-19 related expirations for the past 24-hour period. We have also established a dedicated extension on our phone system as an additional avenue of communication. Anyone can dial 718-471-7400 ext. 311 to reach our designated COVID -19 Family extension where you can listen to COVID 19 updates. You can also leave messages related to COVID-19 and a staff member will call you back as soon as possible. Queens Nassau Rehab & Nursing Center will continue to be available to family members to respond to any questions you may have. Do not hesitate to contact your Social Worker for assistance and/or in scheduling Audio or Video calls with loved ones.

Date: September 17, 2023
Number of new COVID-19 positive cases 0 Staff & 1 Resident
Number of new COVID-19 related expirations 0

https://www.queensnassaurehab.com/recent-covid-data/