Covid-19 Policy

Susan’s Heart is taking a very active approach in preparation and ongoing understanding of COVID-19. We are monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), as well as state and local health departments for live and up-to-date guidance and the newest knowledge related to COVID-19. Susan’s Heart is adhering to the recommendations of the CDC to prevent the spread of the virus as well as how to care and treat patients who may be diagnosed with COVID-19 in their homes.

We have established an executive level task force that includes but is not limited to clinical expertise, business operations, marketing, technology and strategy to ensure all especially nursing and caregiving staff are educated with the most up-to-date and critical information regarding COVID-19.
Each of the preventative measures recommended by the CDC are already standard practice across our agencies, and all professional care staff complete stringent training administered by a Registered Nurse on topics critical to keeping clients safe such as infection control (IC), proper hand washing, and cough and cold etiquette. As a best practice, we follow both Joint Commission and CDC guidelines.

Due to the recent COVID-19 concerns, we have taken proactive steps to provide supplemental training to our Susan’s Heart agencies for their caregivers and staff on the following topics:

Registered Nurse on Your Team
In addition to these protocols, Susan’s Heart clients also benefit from the oversight of a Registered Nurse. You and your loved one have access to a Susan’s Heart nurse 24/7 should an emergency arise.

Real-time Change in Condition Monitoring
Through our mobile plan of care technology, each Susan’s Heart professional caregiving staff are directly connected to a Registered Nurse at all times. Caregiving staff are trained to watch for signs that your loved one’s condition may be changing due to a new illness or complication or an ongoing health condition. Upon observing these changes, they will immediately log this into the client’s file alerting the nurse in real time. This is especially critical with the long incubation period associated with COVID-19.

COVID-19 prevention tips

You and your loved ones can support infection control by taking the following steps:

  • Practice frequent and effective hand hygiene and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Your Susan’s Heart nurse can help with tips.
  • Prohibit visitors who are not essential to be in the home.
  • Clean all high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, toilets, phones, tablets, and bedside tables every day according to the label instructions on the household cleaning product.
  • Place all used disposable gloves, face masks, and other contaminated items in a lined container before disposing of them with other household waste. Clean your hands with soap and water (preferred) or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) immediately after handling these items.
  • Avoid sharing household items with your loved one including dishes, drinking glasses, utensils, towels, and bedding.
  • Wash laundry thoroughly. Immediately remove and wash clothes or bedding that have any bodily fluids on them. Wear gloves when handling these items and wash your hands immediately after removing your gloves.
  • Contact your local Susan’s Heart agency and your physician immediately if you experience a change in your condition warranting additional care such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath especially if not typical for you.
  • Contact your local health department and our office should you have any confirmed interaction with high-risk individuals.

If you have any questions about the care your loved one is currently receiving or you have a new or changing need for home care, please call give us a call. We are ready and standing by to help.

a couple of caregivers and an elderly people