During our routine staff testing this week, we had two staff members test positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately this means we must discontinue patio visits until further notice and restart point prevalence testing (PPT). Our first round of testing for both residents and staff will be next week. As a reminder, any staff who test positive will be self-quarantined at home and will not be allowed to return to work until they recover from the virus; 10 days following positive test and 72 hours from last fever without using medication.

Our top priority is to keep everyone safe and healthy. Our staff are equipped with specific training and PPE to continue to provide safe, quality care, services and support to the residents of our community. We remain vigilant on social distancing, proper hand hygiene and our infection control practices.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

Elizabeth Letich

Administrator

651-460-1138

eletich@trinity.sfhs.org

October 2nd, 2020
The results from the 9th round of Point Prevalence Testing (PPT) has come back. At this time, we have had no additional staff or residents test positive for COVID-19. Our staff will be routinely tested weekly according to CMS guidelines. Our next round of routine staff testing will take place on 10/6/2020.

Please know we continue to offer outdoor visitation (for those not in quarantine), window visits and virtual visits in an on-going effort to decrease the impact the virus may have on residents. Please contact Joy at 651-460-1166 to schedule your visit in advance.

The coming cooler months will continue to challenge us in limiting the impact of COVID-19 on our community. It is important for each of us to think about how our actions affect others we come in contact with. We must protect one another. You are a key partner in the safe reopening of our care center, please remember to social distance, wear a mask, and practice proper hand hygiene. Remember to stay home if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

We truly appreciate your patience as we prepare to expand visits and other activities within our care campus. We all look forward to the days ahead when we’re able to enjoy the simple pleasures of hugs, handshakes, and warm in-person greetings again.

Please follow our Facebook page (@Farmington Health Services) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening in our care center. We appreciate all the support, prayers, and offers of help that we’ve received. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact Elizabeth Letich, Administrator, at 651-460-1138 or eletich@trinity@sfhs.org.

September 25, 2020

The results from the 8^th round of Point Prevalence Testing (PPT) is shown below. At this time, we have had no additional staff or residents test positive for COVID-19. We are still waiting on staff results.  We will test all residents of our targeted quarantine area and all staff on 09/29/20 for our 9^th round of Point Prevalence testing (PPT).

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Total Tested
Residents	0	58	0	58
Staff	0	114	44	158

We continue to follow the recommended guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and take all appropriate measures possible to protect the health and wellness of all who live and work here. We test symptomatic residents and staff as symptoms arise and perform site testing during an outbreak (1 or more positive cases of either a resident or staff in our care center). Should a confirmed case come from any of these tests, we would promptly notify our residents, their families and staff.

On September 17, 2020, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) released Memorandum QSO-20-39-NH Nursing Home Visitation – COVID 19 which provides updated visitation guidelines for skilled nursing facilities; https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-39-nh.pdf. We are currently waiting for the MN Department of Health direction on this Memo before we begin working on a policy & implementation plan.

Please follow our Facebook page for all COVID updates and information on what is happening in our care center.  We appreciate all the support, prayers, and offers of help that we’ve received. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact Elizabeth Letich, Administrator, at 651-460-1138 or eletich@trinity@sfhs.org.

On 9/17/2020 Trinity Care Center became aware that two employees tested Positive for COVID 19.  As of yesterday Trinity Care Center began a targeted quarantine & resident testing.  We will continue with our targeted quarantine and testing until we have had two weeks of negative testing.

Due to our continued targeted Quarantine, the implementation of our essential caregiver program has been delayed. 

We now offer outdoor visits and small group (10 or less) activities for residents not residing in the targeted quarantined area.  Face coverings and social distancing are utilized.  Please contact Joy at 651-460-1166 to schedule your visit in advance.

Last week we learned about the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) testing requirements that include routine staff testing. Based on our current county positivity rate we will be routinely testing all staff weekly. Our first round of routine testing for all staff was done this Tuesday. We will be testing all staff again next Tuesday, September 22nd.

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. If you have specific questions or concerns, please reach out to me.

Elizabeth Letich

Administrator

651-460-1138eletich@trinity@sfhs.org

Posted by Farmington Health Services dba Trinity Campus on Friday, September 11, 2020

The results from the 5^th round of Point Prevalence Testing (PPT) is shown below. At this time, we have had no additional staff or residents test positive for COVID-19. Additionally, we have now closed our COVID unit. We are waiting on the results of 2 staff members. If these results are negative, we will resume patio and open-window visits soon.

	Tests Positive	Tests Negative	Tests Pending	Total Tested
Residents	0	60	0	60
Staff	0	125	2	125

This week, CMS and MDH released new testing requirements for our care center’s staff and residents that are effective immediately. “Facility Staff” is defined broadly, to include employees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, and caregivers who provide care and services to residents on behalf of the facility, and students in the facility’s nurse aide training programs or from affiliated academic institutions.  The requirements outline routine testing depending on our county positivity rate:

• Low: Monthly testing in counties with less than 5% positivity
• Medium: Weekly testing in counties with 5-10% positivity
• High: Bi-weekly testing in counties with greater than 10% positivity

The rule also requires testing in three scenarios: (i) symptomatic individual identified; (ii) outbreak (new case arises in facility); and (iii) routine testing.  While CMS does not recommend routine testing of residents unless the resident leaves the facility regularly, it does require routine testing of staff.

Currently, our policy is to test residents and staff if they are symptomatic, had exposure to someone positive and during a known outbreak in our facility like we currently experiencing. Due to our county positivity rate, we will now be conducting “routine” Staff testing weekly. This frequency is subject to change pending our county positivity rate.

We are optimistic the last 2 staff results will return negative and we will be able to lift some of the precautions introduced during the threat of COVID-19. We are finalizing our policy on the Essential Caregiver program and will have more information for our residents and families next week.

We appreciate all the support, prayers, and offers of help that we’ve received. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact Elizabeth Letich, Administrator, at 651-460-1138 or eletich@trinity@sfhs.org.

8/27/2020

A message from the Trinity Campus Administrator

Last week Trinity Care Center removed an employee from work due to a positive covid exposure in the community. Today we learned this employee tested positive.  We are confident this employee maintained proper PPE use while working but will continue to monitor for signs or symptoms of residents and staff.

A 5^th round of testing will be conducted next week.  The date has yet to be determined.  As of today, we have yet to receive results from our 4^th round of testing that occurred this Wednesday. 

With questions, please contact me.    

Elizabeth Letich

Administrator

651-460-1138

eletich@trinity.sfhs.org

Posted by Farmington Health Services dba Trinity Campus on Thursday, August 20, 2020