News And Events

Masking Guidelines Remain in Place at RHS

Dear Family and Friends,

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Minnesota’s Governor, and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced yesterday some relaxation in wearing masks.  This is exciting and welcome news.  However, MDH is indicating that this news does not change masking or eye protection for nursing home or assisted living residents, staff and visitors.  The rules in place last week remains the same at this time.  When MDH makes any additional changes which impacts nursing homes or assisted living facilities, we will let you know.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our care center open for visiting and ending this pandemic. If you have not received the vaccination, we encourage you to connect with your primary health care provider or use the Vaccine Locator map (Vaccine Locations / COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota (mn.gov)) to find a vaccine appointment near you.

Renville Health Services continues to routinely test non-vaccinated staff twice a week or weekly. We also test when an employee or resident show signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or has had exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19. As of today, we continue to have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at MOM, PV, or RenVilla. We are following recommendations from the MDH, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Thank you again for helping us fight this COVID-19 virus. Your support, prayers, and caring will not be forgotten. Please follow our Facebook page or our website (www.sfhs.org) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening inside our buildings. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

5.7.2021 Restrictions Relaxing for Vaccinated Residents

Dear Family and Friends,

We are happy to report another step in relaxing resident restrictions.  The MN Department of Health (MDH) announced that fully vaccinated residents may participate in activities and dining without social distancing and without use of source control masks.  If unvaccinated residents are present, all residents are expected to wear source control masks except while eating, and the unvaccinated residents need to maintain social distancing.  Residents will need to wear masks getting to and from the dining or activity room but if there are no unvaccinated residents, masks can be removed and vaccinated residents can sit near each other.

Governor Tim Walz announced at Thursday’s press conference that nearly 90% of Minnesotans 65 years of age or older and 58% of all eligible Minnesotans have received at least one vaccination dose.  Thank you for your partnership in keeping our care center open for visiting and ending this pandemic. If you have not received the vaccination, we encourage you to connect with your primary health care provider or use the Vaccine Locator map (Vaccine Locations / COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota (mn.gov)) to find a vaccine appointment near you.

Our care center continues to routinely test non-vaccinated staff twice a week and when an employee or resident show signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or has had exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19. As of today, we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at RenVilla, MOM, or PV. We are following recommendations from the MDH, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Thank you again for helping us fight this COVID-19 virus. Your support, prayers, and caring will not be forgotten. Please follow our Facebook page or our website (www.sfhs.org) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening at RHS. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

Visitation to Resume Immediately

Good Afternoon –

For RenVilla – there were no new positives from the first round of outbreak testing conducted 4/20. Therefore, general visitation will be resuming effective immediately. Please see contact information below for further visitation information.

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting outbreak testing (week 1 with no new positives complete). Open visitation.

Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only. Open visitation.

Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only. Open visitation.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Weekly. We are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

Unfortunately, while cases in long-term care centers remain relatively low due to vaccination efforts, case rates in our local communities have climbed dramatically again. County positivity rates continue to dictate testing frequency and visitation policies. Data published Tuesday show there were 193 people in Minnesota’s hospitals getting intensive care for COVID-19 complications the day before, a rise of 21% from last week.

You are a key partner in keeping our care center open for visiting and ending this pandemic. We encourage you to connect with your primary health care provider or use the Vaccine Locator map (Vaccine Locations / COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota (mn.gov)) to find a vaccine appointment near you.

If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can now choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing proper hand-hygiene before and after. Visitors are still required to physically distance from other residents and staff throughout our care center and not socialize in hallways or common areas. Visits are still required to be scheduled in advance. Please contact the below person to schedule your visit:

RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus (320) 329-4374

Meadows on Main – Deb Wertish (320) 329-4377

Prairie View – Amy Klawitter (320) 848-2093

Please note that screening is still required of all visitors and employees but you will see changes in how this is performed.  We ask that you please complete the screening at the entrance to our building which will require a temperature check and attestation of 2-3 questions.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

COVID Update – No New Cases

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

RenVilla – 0 residents and 1 staff tested positive. Conducting outbreak testing.

Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Residents (1st round of outbreak testing). We are testing MOM/PV Employees Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

Health Department calculations on Friday show 49.8 percent of the state’s adult population has received at least one vaccine dose, with more than one-third completely vaccinated. However, active cases are now at levels not seen since December. Hospitalizations have climbed significantly in the past weeks and are hovering around levels not seen since early January. The age of those newly hospitalized is trending younger than earlier in the pandemic. The majority of people in the hospital now for COVID-19 are younger than 60.

We continue to work on vaccinating our residents and staff. You are a key partner in keeping our care center open for visiting and ending this pandemic. We encourage you to connect with your primary health care provider or use the Vaccine Locator map (Vaccine Locations / COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota (mn.gov)) to find a vaccine appointment near you.

If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can now choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing proper hand-hygiene before and after. Visitors are still required to physically distance from other residents and staff throughout our care center and not socialize in hallways or common areas. Visits are still required to be scheduled in advance. Please contact the below person to schedule your visit:

Visitation Status:

  • RenVilla – Closed to general visitation for 1st round of outbreak testing. Essential caregivers and compassionate care visits continue. Window visits encouraged.
  • MOM – Open general visitation. Essential caregiver and compassionate care visits continue. Patio visits encouraged weather pending.
  • Prairie View – General visitation scheduled to resume 4/19 pending no changes. Essential caregivers and compassionate care visits continue. Window visits encouraged.

Visitation Contact:

  • RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus (320) 329-4374
  • Meadows on Main – Deb Wertish (320) 329-4377
  • Prairie View – Amy Klawitter (320) 848-2093

Please note that screening is still required of all visitors and employees but you will see changes in how this is performed.  We ask that you please complete the screening at the entrance to our building which will require a temperature check and attestation of 2-3 questions.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

RenVilla Must Resume Point Prevalence Testing

Good Afternoon –

We were notified today that a visitor who was at the RenVilla building on 4/10 and 4/11 has tested positive. We were also notified that an employee who last worked on 04/05 tested positive via yesterday’s surveillance testing. The employee has been in quarantine at home since 4/6 due to a household exposure.

Unfortunately, this means that the RenVilla will need to go into outbreak testing. This also means that all visitation for the RenVilla will need to be postponed for at least one week while we complete the first round of all staff and resident testing.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

COVID Update – No New Cases

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Weekly. We are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

This week, MDH stated they will follow the CDC guidelines for national and international travel. If an employee is fully vaccinated they do not need to quarantine after travel. They would need a COVID test 3-5 days after return. 

The percentage of Minnesotans who are vaccinated continues to climb. 41.8% of Minnesotans have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 27% of Minnesotans are considered fully vaccinated. Even with the climbing vaccination rates, Minnesota’s state COVID positivity rate is now 6%, rising one percentage point from last week. Hospitalizations also continue to climb and are now the highest since the Pandemic’s peak in January.

One of the best ways you are able to help our community is to get vaccinated. We continue to encourage you to connect with your primary health care provider or use the Vaccine Locator map (Vaccine Locations / COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota (mn.gov)) to find a vaccine appointment near you.

If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can now choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing proper hand-hygiene before and after. Visitors are still required to physically distance from other residents and staff throughout our care center and not socialize in hallways or common areas. Visits are still required to be scheduled in advance. Please contact the below person to schedule your visit:

RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus (320) 329-4374

Meadows on Main – Deb Wertish (320) 329-4377

Prairie View – Amy Klawitter (320) 848-2093

Please note that screening is still required of all visitors and employees but you will see changes in how this is performed.  We ask that you please complete the screening at the entrance to our building which will require a temperature check and attestation of 2-3 questions.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

COVID Update

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Weekly. We are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

As of this week, 80 percent of seniors have gotten at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine as well as 38 percent of residents aged 50 to 64. More than 1 million Minnesotans are now fully vaccinated and 1.66 million, or 38 percent have gotten at least one shot. On Tuesday, March 30th, Minnesota expanded vaccine eligibility to all Minnesotans ages 16 and up. Although vaccinations are ramping up, Minnesota’s seven-day rolling average positivity rate has been increasing, and as of the latest data, it is at 5.3%, putting the state in the “caution” status.

We encourage you to do your part in stopping the spread of COVID-19 by connecting with your primary health care provider or using the Vaccine Locator map (Vaccine Locations / COVID-19 Updates and Information – State of Minnesota (mn.gov)) to find a vaccine appointment near you.  Please continue to wear face masks, social distancing, wash your hands often and get tested if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive or are experiencing COVID symptoms.

If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can now choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing proper hand-hygiene before and after. Visitors are still required to physically distance from other residents and staff throughout our care center and not socialize in hallways or common areas. Visits are still required to be scheduled in advance. Please contact the below person to schedule your visit:

RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus (320) 329-4374

Meadows on Main – Deb Wertish (320) 329-4377

Prairie View – Amy Klawitter (320) 848-2093

Please note that screening is still required of all visitors and employees but you will see changes in how this is performed.  We ask that you please complete the screening at the entrance to our building which will require a temperature check and attestation of 2-3 questions.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

NEW LOOSENED VISITING GUIDELINES!

Good Evening –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

  • RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 8 weeks.
  • Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 12 weeks.
  • Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 10 weeks.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Weekly. We are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers/Visitors Monthly.

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

We are very excited to share the news that state and federal agencies that previously limited visitation in our setting have now issued guidance on how we can relax visitation restrictions and continue to protect the health of our residents and staff. As a result, we can safely open our doors to visitors. Additionally, those residents who are fully vaccinated will be able to come and go without the need to quarantine upon return and may receive a visitor in their private room.

If a resident is fully vaccinated, they can now choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing proper hand-hygiene before and after. Visitors are still required to physically distance from other residents and staff throughout our care center and not socialize in hallways or common areas. Visits are still required to be scheduled in advance. Please contact the below person to schedule your visit:

  • RenVilla – Rhonda Marcus (320) 329-4374
  • Meadows on Main – Deb Wertish (320) 329-4377
  • Prairie View – Amy Klawitter (320) 848-2093

Please note that screening is still required of all visitors and employees but you will see changes in how this is performed.  We ask that you please complete the screening at the entrance to our building which will require a temperature check and attestation of 2-3 questions.

While visitation is continuing to expand under the federal and state changes, there are still a few distinct exceptions: 

  • No indoor visits are allowed for unvaccinated residents if our county positivity rate is >10% or in the “red zone.”
  • No indoor visits are allowed for residents with a confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met the criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions.
  • No indoor visits are allowed for residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.

We deeply appreciate the sacrifices you made to limit the impact of COVID-19 on our community and your patience as we continue to navigate the altering guidelines imposed by the state and federal agencies. Our entire team looks forward to seeing you again! Family, friends and volunteers are core to what makes our community so special.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678

COVID Update – No New Cases!

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

  • RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 8 weeks.
  • Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 12 weeks.
  • Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 10 weeks.

RenVilla continues to test staff weekly. MOM/PV continues to test staff monthly. We will always test an employee or resident/tenant showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19. We are following recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

On Wednesday this week, CMS released new recommendations regarding visitation. This is very exciting, and we are beginning those preparations. However, we have yet to receive guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health on how this will roll out in our buildings. We expect this guidance to be coming out very soon.  Please watch for new guideline changes in next week’s update.

In the meantime, please continue scheduling visitation with the person below. Testing needs will vary between buildings based on current guidance:

  • Rhonda Marcus 320.329.4374 (RenVilla)
  • Deb Wertish 320.329.4377 (MOM)
  • Amy Klawitter 320.848.2093 (PV)

In addition, we do encourage window visits as the weather is getting nicer. These do not need to be prescheduled, but if your loved on will need assistance getting to the window, please call the charge nurse (RenVilla) at 320.329.8381.

Thank you,

One Year Since 1st COVID case was Confirmed in MN

Good Afternoon –

Please see the results from this week below. You will be notified if any tests return positive.

  • RenVilla – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 7 weeks.
  • Meadows on Main – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 11 weeks.
  • Prairie View – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Conducting surveillance testing only due to no new positives in over 9 weeks.

We are currently testing Renvilla Employees/Essential Caregivers weekly, and we are testing MOM/PV Employees/Essential Caregivers monthly. Prescheduled indoor visits are occurring in all buildings. See below for more information. Also, with the beautiful weather we are having, we are encouraging family and friends to come and have window visits (though it is still too chilly for patio visits). These to not need to be prescheduled, but we do ask that people do not drive on the grass as it will leave ruts.

To schedule an indoor visit, please contact:

We continue to follow recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

This Saturday, March 6th, marks one year since Minnesota confirmed its first case of COVID-19. The state has since recorded 485,230 total confirmed or probable cases. Now, more than 52% of Minnesotans 65 and older have received at least one dose of either COVID vaccine. This week, Governor Tim Walz stated Minnesota will expand vaccination eligibility when 70% of that population gets their first dose. Vaccine eligibility would expand to people with high-risk health conditions and targeted essential workers. Younger groups and the general public would follow in the late spring and summer.

Johnson & Johnson has now received an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its COVID-19 vaccine, the Janssen Ad-Vac. The J&J vaccine is different than its Moderna and Pfizer 2-dose vaccine counterparts in two ways. First, the J&J vaccine is a one-shot vaccine, not a two-dose vaccine. Second, the J&J vaccine uses a more common vaccine technology and does not utilize the mRNA vaccine delivery method. The vaccine is published as 85% effective 28 days post vaccination. Side effects listed for this vaccine are similar to those listed for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

We continue to work with Cami Peterson-DeVries, AGNP on our infection control practices, policies, and emergency management. If you have any questions on this, she can be reached at CPeterson-DeVries@sfhs.org or 320.287.0313.

Thank you,

Casie Knoshal

  Administrator

  Renville Health Services

   Phone: (320) 329-4373

   Fax: (320) 329-3678