Education
Where can you find the COVID-19 pandemic plan?
Infection control section in the COVID-19 folder on the common drive.
Where can you find your already made PPE kits?
During admissions PPE is located on the unit, after hours PPE kits are provided by the Nurse on Duty.
How is COVID 19 spread?
It is droplet and can be spread through particulates in the air that can enter your mouth, nose and eyes. It can be transmitted by sneezing and coughing.
What are major symptoms of COVID – 19?
Fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, malaise, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills.
Where are your policies regarding sick leave during the pandemic located?
COVID 19 sick leave policies and procedures can be found in the common drive, infection control section, in the COVID 19 folder.
Where can all the COVID-19 policies and procedures be found for reference?
All policies and Procedures for COVID 19 can be found in the common drive, infection control section in the COVID 19 folder.
What PPE do you need to care for a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?
Gloves, gown, N-95 mask, and face shield are needed to care for a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID – 19.
What are the differences between contact, airborne and droplet precautions and what PPE is required for each?
Contact Precautions: are implemented when a patient is diagnosed with an infectious process that is transmitted via physical touch or by touching contaminated surfaces. PPE required are: gloves and gowns. (i.e. MRSA)
Droplet Precautions: are implemented when a patient is identified as contagious with a pathogen that is transmitted via respiratory droplets. PPE required are: gown, gloves, masks and eye protection for staff who will be working within 3 feet of these patients.
(i.e. COVID-19)
Airborne Precautions: are implemented when a patient is identified as having a contagious illness that is transmitted via the respiratory tract. Minute particulates of microorganisms can remain in the air over long distances. PPE required are: N95 Respirator, face shield, gowns, and gloves. (i.e. Tuberculosis)
If a patient has a temperature of 99.5 or> or becomes symptomatic, what needs to happen immediately?
If a patient becomes symptomatic or spikes a fever, they should be immediately isolated to their room, and you should refer to the Decision Tree for further guidance.
Do you know what your benefits are if you become ill with COVID 19?
Your benefits if you become ill with COVID 19 are 80 hours of administrative paid leave.
What is the name of the document that walks you through what to do when a patient becomes symptomatic or febrile?
The Decision Tree
What PPE is donned when a patient is swabbed for COVID 19?
When you swab (test) a patient for COVID – 19,the PPE you must don is: gloves, gown, face shield, N-95 mask
How long should you wash your hands for it to be considered effective?
You should wash your hands for 20-40 seconds to be considered effective.
What is the screening process for coming to work?
All staff are screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and possible exposure and temperatures are obtained.
*Daily Double*
What is RPC’s process for a staff person to return to work when being ill with COVID type symptoms?
Staff cannot return to work unless they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of antipyretics or a negative COVID test.
How are patients staying in touch with family with restriction of visitors?
Skype, facetime on the units with 1:1 supervision.
Show us how you DON and DOFF your PPE?
SHOW AND TELL
How many times can you use hand sanitizer before needing to wash?
You can use hand sanitizer up to 5 times before needing to wash your hands with soap and water unless they are visibly soiled.
What do staff do immediately if a visitor or staff screens yes to symptoms or has a fever upon arrival?
Staff or visitors shall be immediately isolated with a mask and the Infection Control RN or designee is notified.
Where can staff find information on Warm Line and other community resources during the pandemic?
Information about the warm line and other Community resources can be found in Commissioner Lambrew’s Weekly email and updates regarding COVID 19 as well on various bulletin boards in the hospital break rooms and by the time clock.
Where can you find education packets of information for resources, i.e.? hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette etc.?
Common drive, infection control section in the COVID-19 folder.
What is a N-95 mask?
N-95 respirators are tight fitting respirators that filter out at least 95% of particles in the air.
What are two aerosol generating procedures we would do at Riverview requiring a closed exam room and full PPE?
The 2 aerosol generating procedures we do at Riverview would require full PPE and a closed exam room are swabbing for Covid – 19 and giving a nebulizer treatment to a patient with suspected or confirmed Covid – 19.
How are we monitoring patients for COVID-19 symptoms?
Asking screening questions and acquiring temperatures BID
What does the terms coughing, and sneezing etiquette mean?
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze and sneeze and cough into your elbow not in your hands.
Are you aware of the signage at the entrance? What information is on the signs?
Information about visitation restrictions and screening procedures for staff & visitors.
When do you have to wear a surgical mask?
Surgical masks are worn as soon as you enter the hospital and throughout the entire shift unless eating in a breakroom
What are high touch surfaces?
High touch surfaces are those that are touched frequently, door knobs, computer keyboards, remote controls, phones, counters, or tables.
How did we change active treatment for patients to mitigate risk of exposure of COVID-19?
The Harbor Mall was closed, and all patients have been kept on their individual units to limit exposure and transmission of the virus. Groups are limited in numbers to ensure social distancing of at least 6 feet.
Have you been trained on how to screen for symptoms of COVID-19 and if so what training did you receive?
If staff have volunteered for screening, they have had education of signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and have a written competency on file.
Do you know how hospital administration gets and receives daily updates on COVID 19 information from the CDC?
Superintendent is on a daily call with the Maine CDC to obtain information and then disseminates to the COVID-19 planning committee at an 11am meeting Mon Wed Fri.
Do patients mask?
Patients are asked and encouraged to utilize a cloth mask and maintain social distancing. Education about masking and social distancing is provided to patients.
How often do we clean high touch surfaces?
Cleaned every two hours or as needed by housekeeping with the help of unit staff.
How are we conducting Treatment Team Meetings during this pandemic to minimize risk and exposure?
We are using telehealth.
Where is our isolation unit?
Upper Kennebec
How can you obtain up to date information 24/7 on COVID – 19 and how it is impacting Riverview?
Riverview has a 24/7 website available with up to date information
http://www.maine.dhhs/riverview/covid19
Where are the only places in the building you can take off your mask?
Breakrooms are the only place in the building where it is permissible to be without a mask. Masks may be doffed at the time clock before leaving.
Why do we use standard and transmission based precautions?
How are we monitoring for compliance for these precautions?
The assumption that every person is potentially infected or colonized with a pathogen that could be transmitted in the healthcare setting.
Staff are monitored for compliance when patients are diagnosed with infectious diseases and precautions are implemented with audit tools via observation.
When accompanying a patient to the Emergency Department, what PPE is required to DON?
When accompanying a patient to the ER, gloves a face shield, N95 mask, and gown must be donned.
Where can you find the Respiratory Protection Plan?
In the common drive, infection control section, in the COVID-19 folder.
How is Riverview ensuring staff are educated about COVID – 19 and all the policies and Procedures involved with managing COVID 19 in the hospital.
Through the LMS system, emails, town hall meetings, communication on each individual units and department meetings.
How many times can you reuse your N95 mask before discarding it?
You can don and doff it 5 times or 8 continuous hours or an entire shift.
How do we audit for hand hygiene?
We audit for hand hygiene by camera in the medication rooms and peer review on the units.
What is our admission process during the COVID-19 pandemic?
All admissions are thoroughly screened for a minimum of 14 days for vitals signs and symptoms of COVID from the sending facility. Patients are admitted to UK and swabbed for COVID-19. They are isolated on that unit until test results come back. All belongings are taken immediately outside, and the patient is requested to shower. Staff are donned in the appropriate PPE.
DAILY DOUBLE
What do major indicators do we track in the hospital daily related to COVID?
Daily the hospital keeps track of patient and staff illness, COVID testing, supplies, and staffing in regards specific to COVID.