Date: 7/10/2020

Renville Health Services tested residents and staff who previously tested negative for CoVid-19 for the 5^th time on Thursday July 9^th, 2020. These results are reflected in the graph below. We had 0 new positive resident and 0 new positive staff. We currently have 3 residents in our segregated unit being treated by our designated staff and 0 staff still self-quarantining at home.

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Total Tested
RenVilla	0	36	0	36
Meadows on Main	0	0	0	0
Prairie View	0	0	0	0
Staff	0	72	0	72

Following all recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, we will slowly be easing some precautions we introduced amid the active cases in RenVilla.

• 07/13/2020 – Tentatively looking into discontinuing facility wide droplet precautions. This means staff will no longer be fully gowned in each resident room, and residents will be able to come out of their rooms individually to spend time outside for 1:1 activities with staff.
• 07/15/2020 – Tentatively initiating scheduled, monitored, social distanced patio visits for residents and guests. More information on this will be coming shortly.
• Once we no longer have residents in our COVID Unit, we plan to reintroduce beautician/salon visits for our residents.

Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care center can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

Casie Knoshal

Administrator

Renville Health Services

Phone: 320-329-4373

Date: 7/6/2020

Renville Health Services tested residents and staff who previously tested negative for CoVid-19 for the 4^th time on Thursday July 2^nd, 2020. These results are reflected in the graph below. We had 0 positive resident and 0 positive staff. We will be testing again Thursday July 9^th. We currently have 4 residents in our segregated unit being treated by our designated staff and 3 staff still self-quarantining at home.

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Total Tested
RenVilla	0	35	0	35
Meadows on Main	0	0	0	0
Prairie View	0	0	0	0
Staff	0	69	0	69

We continue to follow all recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As a reminder, because of the active cases in our care center, we are only allowing closed window visits and virtual visits at this time.

Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care center can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

Date: 6/27/2020

Renville Health Services tested residents and staff who previously tested negative for CoVid-19 for the 3^rd time on Thursday June 25^th, 2020. These results are included in the graph below. We had 1 positive resident and 0 positive staff. The notable improvement from the 2 weeks prior lead us to believe that the positive results will continue to decline. We will be testing again the next 2 Thursdays. We currently have 5 residents in our segregated unit being treated by our designated staff and 4 staff still self-quarantining at home.

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Total Tested
RenVilla	7	142	0	149
Meadows on Main	0	0	0	0
Prairie View	0	0	0	0
Staff	5	218	0	223

We are working in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Health and following all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide care for our residents in our segregated unit. We will continue to coordinate with our state and federal regulatory agencies to take the necessary steps to best protect residents and staff from this virus and prevent it from spreading any farther.

Due to the current CoVid-19 situation in RenVilla, we are providing scheduled, closed window visits with residents. We also encourage virtual visits. Staff are able to assist in these visits using (portable phones and tablets).

Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care center can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

6/18/2020

Renville Health Services began proactively testing all residents and staff of RenVilla on Thursday, June 11^th after a resident showing symptoms, tested positive. All those who tested negative this past week were be tested again this today, Thursday, June 18^th. We anticipate to have those results within 48 hours. We currently have 3 residents in our segregated unit, and 2 staff members self-quarantined at home. 

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Total Tested
RenVilla	3	67	41	111
Meadows on Main	0	0	0	0
Prairie View	0	0	0	0
Staff	2	78	72	152

We continue to follow all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Residents are being monitored throughout all shifts. All staff continue to be screened prior to entering the building and are required to wear surgical masks and eye protection. Gowns are also being worn when in resident rooms.

In honor of Father’s Day this weekend, Renville Health Services would like to extend our appreciation to all Fathers for all they do and continue to do for us. Father’s Day is a time to honor the men who have influenced our lives and protected us when needed. This year, CoVid-19 precludes us from being together on this special day. We encourage you to visit virtually or through a window visit.  Staff are working diligently to meet the high demands for virtual visits and window visits. To ensure families are able to see their loved one during the upcoming Father’s Day and any other time, we ask that you contact the care center to schedule your window visit or virtual visit ahead of time.

Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care center can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

6/12/2020

As we have indicated in previous updates, our efforts to keep our residents and staff safe have resulted in no CoVid-19 exposure.  Sadly, we must now convey that we have had a small outbreak in our RenVilla care center.  We have prepared for weeks for this event and that preparation has placed us in an excellent position to handle the outbreak.  All residents and employees have now been tested for CoVid-19 and we have already received a majority of those results. 

The residents testing positive for CoVid-19 have been transferred to our segregated unit where they will receive all the cares required to see them through this illness.  Today, we have 3 number of residents in our segregated unit. 

In addition to these residents who tested positive, we have 1 staff self-quarantining at home due to a pending or positive COVID-19 test.

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Total Tested
RenVilla	3	61	1	65
Meadows on Main	0	0	0	0
Prairie View	0	0	0	0
Staff	1	42	33	76

As a reminder, staff that work in our segregated unit will not care for residents outside of the unit or interact with any employees that are providing direct care to residents outside of the unit. All staff in the segregated unit will be equipped with N95 masks, face shields, gowns, and foot covers. Staff will enter and exit the segregated unit from a separate door to prevent exposure to the rest of our care center, residents and employees. 

As you may have heard care centers in MN have been provided guidelines in which they can open up their beauty salons.  Unfortunately, with the confirmed cases of COVID-19 within our care center, we will not be allowed to resume salon services at this time.

A few of the activities that we have planned for the week ahead to keep residents engaged and connected: Facetime Visits, Devotions, Happy Hour, Trivia, Coloring Contests, Guessing Game Competitions, Etc.

We appreciate all the support, prayers, and offers of help that we’ve received. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact Casie Knoshal at 320 329-4373.

Dear Family and Friends,

As of 6/9/2020, we have an employee in our RenVilla building who has tested positive for COVID-19.  As a result, that employee will be self-isolating for 14 days. We have also been working with our area providers to complete facility wide testing that will be completed following MDH Guidelines. Our top priority is to keep everyone safe and healthy. We are collaborating with our Medical Director and the Minnesota Department of Health and are following all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ensure we are taking all appropriate steps at this time.

Staff who test positive will be quarantined at home and will not be allowed to return to work until they recover from the virus, symptom free (7 days from onset or 3 days post last symptom) and pass the employee screening protocols. To prevent transmission, our staff are equipped with specific training and personal protective equipment (PPE) to provide safe, quality care, services and support to the residents of our community.

As we’ve shared several times, in early March, we initiated proactive infection control practices, screening procedures and visitor restrictions that will help us manage this situation as effectively as possible and protect the safety and health of all who live and work here.

We will continue to update you on any news, emerging issues, or additional changes in our operations via Bright Arrow, email, website, and our Facebook page.

We know that this news may concern you or that you may have questions about what we are doing to keep everyone safe and healthy. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (320) 329-4373 or cknoshal@renvilla.sfhs.org. 

Sincerely,

Casie Knoshal

Administrator

Renville Health Services

Dear Family and Friends

Although not unexpected, as of 6/9/2020, we have a resident in our RenVilla Building who has tested positive for COVID-19.  This event triggers a planned process of isolation to a segregated area to aggressively minimize transmission to others. Our top priority is to keep everyone safe and healthy. We are collaborating with our Medical Director and the Minnesota Department of Health and are following all recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ensure we are taking all appropriate steps at this time.

The isolated area is segregated from the rest of our community and designated staff remain within the area who do not have physical contact with other non-segregated residents. Any staff who may test positive as a result of working within the segregated area will be quarantined at home and will not be allowed to return to work until they recover from the virus, symptom free (7 days from onset or 3 days post last symptom) and pass the employee screening protocols. Our staff are equipped with specific training and personal protective equipment (PPE) to continue to provide safe, quality care, services and support to the residents of our community.

As we’ve shared several times, in early March, we initiated proactive infection control practices, screening procedures and visitor restrictions that will help us manage this situation as effectively as possible and protect the safety and health of all who live and work here.

We will continue to update you on any news, emerging issues, or additional changes in our operations via Bright Arrow, email, website, and our Facebook page.

We know that this news may concern you or that you may have questions about what we are doing to keep everyone safe and healthy. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (320)329-4373 or cknoshal@renvilla.sfhs.org. 

Sincerely,

Casie Knoshal

Administrator

Renville Health Services

We continue to have no known cases of Coronavirus in our care centers. The health and wellness of the people we serve and our staff continue to be our top priority. You may know that our staff provide one-on-one companionship to residents and many creative hallway and door to door activities are conducted to help boost resident spirits, contributing positively to their mental health and well-being.

As the weather improves, we receive many questions regarding outdoor visits. You may have heard restrictions for socializing are beginning to ease in Minnesota and businesses have been allowed to open in outside environments or other restrictions.  However, the state and federal guidelines for us have not yet changed. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) continue to advise no care center visits or open window visits at this time.

As of right now, we are continuing scheduled, closed window visits with residents. We also encourage alternative means of communicating with residents such as phone calls, Facebook, Skype, etc. We have obtained additional equipment to meet the demands of these virtual visits and staff are able to assist residents as needed. We are very grateful to families for their understanding as they help us to do everything we can to put the well-being of your loved ones and others who reside with us above all else; even when compliance with the rules keeps you from personal contact. 

Directions and guidance from governmental agencies are changing daily and we are preparing for the day we are able to lift these restrictions with specific visiting guidelines in their place. St. Francis Health Services has formed a committee, made up of care center leadership, charged with developing methods in which we could safely allow person to person visits, identifying the barriers that exist and brainstorming methods in which we could mitigate risk of our residents’ exposure.

Updated information on our planning and preparedness for Coronavirus and our activities within our care centers can be found by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

With the days becoming warmer, our residents have been able to enjoy being outside more. While outdoors, residents are accompanied by staff and follow strict social distancing protocols requesting residents wear masks.

As you may have heard many senior living communities in Minnesota are conducting entire site testing of both residents and staff. The priority for the entire site testing has been those locations where there has been an outbreak.  Throughout this pandemic, we have followed governmental guidelines and test residents that display symptoms similar to the Coronavirus-19 symptoms or have been exposed to employees who have been directly exposed in their personal lives to Covid-19. As of today, none of those tests results have been positive for Covid-19. In the event we do get a confirmed case in our care center, we are prepared to complete entire site testing. Residents and family will be consulted prior to any testing.

We continue to evaluate visiting restrictions, salon services and group worship. There is discussion at the state level regarding when these services should be allowed but we are encouraged to stay the course knowing those we care for are at higher risk for developing more serious complications.  The Minnesota Department of Health is gathering data from the implementation of expanded testing as to the level of ongoing community transmission as part of its process to potentially revise guidelines in visitation. We do know that any decision to lessen visitor restrictions will be accompanied by requirements to protect our residents and staff and prevent potential transmission of this virus. 

We will continue to provide updates to you to keep you informed of our ongoing work. Help us keep family and loved ones informed by visiting our website (www.sfhs.org) or our Facebook page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

Since the pandemic first began, our staff have been working tirelessly to prevent transmission within our care centers and prepare for the day we provide care for those who test positive. As of today, we still have no known cases of Coronavirus in our care centers. We carefully monitor all residents for symptoms, screen all staff at the beginning of each shift, use PPE, and conduct audits of our infection control practices, providing further education as needed. 

It is expected the new Stay Safe directive from Governor Walz which involves steps to re-open Minnesota, as well as the President’s desire to open our communities, will increase the spread of COVID-19 in the weeks ahead. We remain committed to taking all precautionary measures to restrict this spread of the virus in our care centers. Because those we care for are at high-risk for COVID-19 infection, federal and state guidelines restrict us from relaxing rules for visiting and other group activities at this time. 

We, like you, are anxious for a time where visitors are warmly welcomed in our settings and warm smiles and human touch are not masked or guarded.  We know this is a difficult time for all concerned and that we continue to do all that we can to connect our residents and families in a safe way.

Additional updates and information on our preparedness for COVID-19 can be found on our website (www.sfhs.org) or Facebook page.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.