MARCH 16, 2020: Staff COVID-19 Update


Meeting notes from Senior Leadership Huddle and COVID-19 Preparedness

  • A press release will be sent to the local papers to inform our communities.
  • Information about social distancing will be shared along with PPE and isolation precautions and that should be distributed to the appropriate individuals in your departments. Information about social distancing can be found here.
  • Visitor policies are being reviewed; a decision will be announced tomorrow. A visitor is classified as a student, volunteer, or simply a visitor (to a patient)
  • Effective immediately, we will cancel all support groups, public meetings, events and Wellbeats classes
  • If there is a necessary community type meeting, please find alternative methods to communicate
  • The walking track at the Wellness Center in Mora is still available for use
  • Hinckley’s Fitness Center will be closing Tuesday the 17th after 10pm until further notice.
  • There are still no confirmed cases in Pine or Kanabec counties according to the MDH website.
  • Discussed cafeteria practices, specifically the breakfast and salad bar being self-serve, more information will be sent out once a decision has been made.
  • Due to the recommendations from the MDH about new community level strategies, Dr. Niskanen’s COVID-19 Update and Preparedness presentation set for Wednesday will be held via Skype. Q/A session via the chat window will minimize voice traffic across the connections with PC and Hinckley. It will also be recorded and posted for review by staff that cannot attend.
  • To better our efforts to be transparent and interactive with managers and supervisors, there will be a daily 30-minute conference call to cascade additional information. A calendar invite will be sent out with for dial-in information.
  • Communication from the Senior Leadership meeting held daily will be posted by noon each day. Remember, you can reply to this email if you have questions.
  • Julie in HR will be sending out a survey to all staff to assist our schools with daycare planning and to identify potential staffing needs within departments.
  • There have been additional calls from our community members asking if they should still come in for ‘regular care’, preventative / wellness exams, rehabilitation, etc. The answer is YES! Welia Health has screening processes in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the flu. Remember to follow your current processes already in place.
  • New waiting room guidelines have been circulated to the clinic staff. They are as follows:
    • In Mora—
      • Patients here for wellness visits that are well will be directed to sit by door A.
      • Patients that present with respiratory symptoms will be directed to mask and sit in the area next to door E.
      • all other clinic patients will be directed to sit by doors B, C or D.
    • Pine City has a designated area in the main waiting area and Hinckley patients presenting with respiratory symptoms, fever, or that have traveled outside the county, will be roomed as soon as possible in designated rooms.
  • The lunch and Learn from our Pharmacy Intern, scheduled for Tuesday, March 17th, Almost anything can be poisonous is cancelled
  • The lunch and Learn, presented by our Dieticians, The Not So Sweet Truth about Sugar is cancelled, originally scheduled for Wednesday (18th in Pine City), Thursday (19th in Mora) and Tuesday (24th in Hinckley) is cancelled.
  • Guidelines / policies concerning returning to work after travel is being discussed. We are looking to how other health systems are handling this and will decide when more information is gathered.
  • Community Opioid Task Force Monthly meeting is now cancelled (it was scheduled for today at 12:30).
  • The next pre-natal class is scheduled in Pine City in April. That class is being evaluated later, whether or not to cancel.