To our Residents, Families, Staff, and Community:
As part of our ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents and staff members, we are providing another COVID-19 update. We will continue to provide weekly COVID-19 updates in the following weeks as well. In the event that we have a staff member or resident test positive for COVID-19, we will provide an additional update by close of business the next day.
As of today, Birmingham Green has two residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. The affected residents reside at Willow Oaks Assisted Living. The assigned staff members who are caring for the residents will be wearing full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Although 96% of our residents and 83% of our team members have been vaccinated, it is possible to have breakthrough cases, thus all infection control measures in place will continue to be followed. For more information on COVID-19 illness after vaccination please visit the CDC’s website. The Health Care Center (Nursing Home) and District Home Assisted Living have no positive COVID-19 cases among residents or staff members.
We are aware of the recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement requiring staff vaccinations within long-term care facilities who participate with Medicare and Medicaid. CMS expects to issue formal guidance in October. Birmingham Green has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy, requiring COVID-19 vaccination(s) for all team members, contractors, volunteers, and externs to the extent allowed by law. All team members must provide proof of full vaccination no later than October 15, 2021.
We have resumed outdoor visitation (weather permitting), but will continue to pause indoor visitation in the Health Care Center (Nursing Home). You need to arrange an outdoor visit at the Health Care Center. The District Home and Willow Oaks Assisted Living have paused on-site visitation at this time, but will continue virtual visits. Visits inside the building continue for end-of-life compassionate care situations where in-person arrangements are allowed with appropriate PPE provided.
Visitors who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 can provide proof of vaccination to our Front Desk, which will document their status in a confidential logbook. Visitors who provide proof of vaccination will not be requested to get tested for COVID-19 upon arrival, but our screening process will continue to include a non-contact temperature check. If visitors have not been vaccinated or are unable to verify their vaccination, we will request a COVID-19 test to be completed upon arrival. With the increasing positivity rate in our surrounding community, we will require all individuals to wear a mask while inside of the building, regardless of vaccination status, during visitation.
Following our rollout of a safe and effective vaccine on our campus, we are continuing to follow CDC recommendations. All staff members continue to wear the appropriate PPE and masks based on CDC recommendations, as well as perform proper infection control measures and stringent cleaning protocols. COVID-19 testing for all Birmingham Green residents and staff members, regardless of vaccination status, will occur twice per week until testing identifies no new cases of COVID-19 among staff or residents for a period of at least 14 days since the most recent positive result. Residents who test positive for COVID-19 or may have been exposed to the virus
are isolated for 10 days. Full PPE is worn when working with residents who are under investigation or test positive for COVID-19.
At this time, across our campus, a majority of our residents and team members have been fully vaccinated. We continue to provide those individuals who have not been vaccinated with education materials for their review. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 positivity rate in our local area and make adjustments as needed.
We remain committed to the safety and well-being of our residents and staff members, and we thank you for your patience during this challenging time.
Our residents are at the center of all that we do and their safety,
and the safety of our staff will always be our priority.
Denise Chadwick Wright
Chief Executive Officer