According to the Department of Health’s Interim Guidance for Skilled Nursing Facilities, we are required to develop a Reopening Implementation Plan during COVID-19.
View the DOH Reopening Plan and the CMS Nursing Home Visitation document. For any additional questions or information regarding our PPE plan, please contact me directly at virginiab@moravianmanor.org
Virginia Boyle, MSW
Bob Newell’s pictures tell a story … and all of them are vivid reminders of trips he’s taken. His wife, Susan, is his trusty sidekick along his photo journeys, whether slowly paddling the canoe so he can snap shots or being beside him on the 2,400-mile odyssey in the Yukon on the way to the Arctic Circle. She shares many of his stories as do other friends, who are often with him on trips. That’s part of his joy in photography, handing off stories to friends, allowing them to finish telling the story.
Bob’s passion for photography started in about 1968 while he was stationed in Germany in the Army. A bunk mate, “who was a bit of nut,” he said, had a camera. They had conversations about photography and Bob’s interest in taking photos began. “I used to say I took pictures for 30 years, and started taking photographs in 2005,” he explained. “I knew shutter speeds on the camera, but learned depth of field and to blur things to the viewer’s eye. It is a little more process now.”
Today, Bob’s photography collection includes award-winning shots including, “Isaac Sunset Plow” that won first place in Pennsylvania Magazine photo contest in November and “Blue Heron” that won an honorable mention. “One of the things Susan reminds me is don’t put the location on the photo. People look at it and it reminds them of where they’ve been, even if they were never there, it reminds them of a place similar they visited. Sort of a theater of the mind! People look at the image and imagine what is taking place in the photo.” In Bob’s black and white photograph “Waiting,” taken on a trip to the Star Barn, the subject matter is an empty train station, where the tracks go off in the distance. “It leads you back to who would be waiting there,” Bob imagines. “The concept makes you want to think.”
Whether it is capturing a brilliant sky and the Milky Way, the majestic flight of bird over water, or a tranquil landscape, Bob, and his sidekick Susan, enjoy seeing and capturing the beauty in nature. Their photographs from their 14-day journey in the Yukon allows them to relive the trip whenever they want. He says most people don’t realize the size and the beauty of the Yukon, or know that 615 miles of their trek consisted of driving in mud. “You don’t spray it off the SUV, you chip it off,” Bob described with a chuckle. With every photo taken, Bob and Susan have not only documented their journey through life, but have allowed others to journey with them all from the comfort of art exhibit on the MMC campus.
Today’s update will focus on the effects of the Omicron variant and what it means to our staff and residents.
First, the good news is that the positivity rate in Lancaster County is plunging. As of today, the positivity rate is 25.61%. Several weeks ago, we were above 40%. The declining rate translates into improving hospital data as well. The charts below compare LGH/Penn Medicine COVID hospitalizations from January 3 versus January 31.
Note the hospitalization numbers have reduced from 121 to 87. Patients on ventilators declined from 23 to 16. I watch the ICU numbers and the ventilator numbers. Only one patient on a ventilator has been vaccinated; this statistic brings me comfort.
The Omicron variant has taken its toll on our staff. We have had many staff test positive with county-wide positivity rates over 40% two weeks ago. Thus far, all have had minor symptoms and continue returning to work. However, having further reductions in staff available has proven challenging. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released return to work guidelines last month. As a result, Moravian Manor Communities (MMC) has been operating under the “Contingency” level for the past month. The Contingency level allows workers who have tested positive to return to work sooner. It has been a great help. See the chart below to understand the implications of Contingency level staffing.
Our returning staff are required to use appropriate PPE. In January, we have had 29 staff test positive. During this time, we have had six residents test positive. MMC had one resident pass away from COVID-related pneumonia during this time.
We continue to vaccinate our staff and residents, and booster clinics are offered regularly by Phoebe Pharmacy. In addition, MMC requires all new employees to be vaccinated. Reading multiple sources of literature on the pandemic, I believe that we will continue to learn to live with COVID as the pandemic transitions to an endemic. It would appear the key to this transition is directly related to vaccinations.
Our care areas continue to be a challenge to operate with reduced staff. MMC’s skilled nursing area is limited to 75 residents. We would prefer this to be 95. Two years of working in health care during a pandemic has taken its toll on our staff. We have some of our team on leaves for reasons other than COVID. I wonder if there is a correlation?
Our Wellness Center (Baer Center for Assisted Living) is the response center for our Residential Living call bells. Given our staffing shortage, our LPN’s are unable to physically respond to those call bells, at this time. A member of our security team or maintenance team will continue to respond to your calls, and/or a triage system may take place over the phone versus a physical visit. However, please understand, a physical response will be from non-medical personnel, maintenance or security versus nursing staff. Our directive has not changed. If you are suffering from a possible acute health care crisis, call 911 immediately. In a health crisis (i.e., stroke), time matters. Our response system is not designed to take the place of 911. Fortunately, most of our calls are not serious. However, some are and we want you to know the proper procedure.
We continue to explore ways to provide service with fewer team members. Our service areas most acutely affected by staffing are the clinical areas and dining services. We have increased our dining hours with the introduction of a buffet. Buffet service will occur in the Owls Nest and Garden Court Dining Room. This modified service reduces the need for staffing and provides an opportunity for residents to break bread and enjoy each other’s company. Residents have positively received the buffet format.
Earlier today our maintenance team ran two fire drills. Those of us who are not immediate responders are to report to a central area. As the employees gathered, the noise level got to the point where we could not hear the two-way radio. It was not the noise of the fire alarms. It was the noise of people connecting. While it was inappropriate in that setting, it was music to my ears.
Continue to find ways to connect with others. We all need Human interaction, which is essential for our emotional and spiritual health. Thank you for your continued support as we muddle through these challenges!
Hannah Yoder, BSN, RN, CDP
Dementia Care Coordinator
“The pandemic has allowed Hannah to truly shine … from her leadership during the darkest days of 2020 when the pandemic peeked in Herrnhut Community to her willingness to change shifts to cover the 11pm-7am shift (in spite of that not being her preference) to help the team during staffing challenges for months and months on end. Hannah also picks up innumerable shifts of all hours. Her attention to organization, detail and compliance as well as her willingness to help her fellow nurses out on 11-7, wins her consistent praise. She has really proven herself an amazing and dedicated leader in our MMC community.”
Thank you, Hannah, for your dedication to Excellence in Customer Care!
About the Excellence in Customer Care Recognition Program:
Moravian Manor Communities takes pride in maintaining a strong set of standards and ethics, delivering superior services that make a difference in the daily lives of residents. Through the Excellence in Customer Care recognition program, MMC’s leadership and management team nominate and acknowledge the contributions made by team members who rise to challenges and go above and beyond the call of duty.