The federal government’s sweeping plan to mandate vaccines for health care workers at Medicare and Medicaid facilities is intended to curb the surging Delta variant and to address the slow pace of COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will issue a similar rule requiring vaccinations for workers in most healthcare facilities that receive reimbursement, including hospitals, dialysis centers, ambulatory surgical settings and home health agencies. Additionally, businesses with more than 100 employees must require their workers to be vaccinated or get tested weekly.
Full vaccinations are at the forefront of safety for staff and residents. We encourage all, including family members and volunteers, to become vaccinated. Use these links to learn about vaccines near you, the CDC’s fact sheet and the positivity rate according to the county view data tracker. We also continue to be able to offer resident families to participate in our vaccine clinic at the Jewish Home through our pharmacy. If interested please contact Denise Skrzysowski, RN, our Infection Control Preventionist at dskrzysowski@jhep.org or 570-344-6177 extension 1173. We are pleased to be able to offer this service to help control the spread of COVID 19. Due to the delivery of the vaccine, vaccination can only occur during the week at this time.
Our vaccination rates for our active residents is 94% and staff 89.3% for a total of 91% of our facility fully vaccinated. We have four additional staff and residents who have completed their first series of the vaccine that are not included in our completion stats. Our non-vaccinated staff are tested weekly and all remain negative. Next testing date Wednesday September 22, 2021.
Our Facility’s Resident Impact (Since March 30, 2020, through September 16, 2021)
0 – Residents currently in our building with a confirmed active case of COVID 19
57 – CONFIRMED: Residents with laboratory positive COVID-19
0 – SUSPECTED: Residents with new suspected COVID-19
53 – Confirmed Staff Total: with a positive COVID-19
- Please note that test results are reported on our daily call-in line at 570-207-6711. Family members and all others impacted by the virus will be contacted directly and provided with results and updates.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with our masking and social distancing protocols for our facility as well as the visitation guides changed on September 15 for non-vaccinated visitors, minimum age of 12 for visitors and hold on therapeutic leaves out of the building for residents. Our utmost priority is to protect the residents and staff and their families. Our up to date visitation guidelines are posted on our website at jhep.org in the COVID section. To schedule a visit please email Mary Ryan at mryan@jhep.org or call her at 570-344-6177 ext. 1104. Mary is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. We do ask for visits to be scheduled one day in advance. Please schedule visits occurring on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, no later than the Friday before at 1 p.m. so schedules can be provided to reception staff.
We take very seriously our responsibility for your loved one’s safety and well-being. If you have any questions, we are always available for you. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Mary Rose Applegate, MBA, RD, NHA
Administrator
