Page 4 - EPIC E-News_Winter 2021_FIN

A Quick Look Back at 2020 by Karen Lopez, COO

When the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) hit our area veloped preventative measures by adding COVID-19
in March 2020, I would be the first to admit that I did to nursing care plans, having do temperature checks
not know what to think. I believe many of you felt the of people supported 3 times a day, and ensuring staff

same. It was a scary feeling. However, EPIC’s leader- immediately report any change in condition to the

ship team brought their ideas together and we began delegating nurse.
the hard work to protect the people we support, staff
We were able to convert our day services to virtual
and each other. This was going to be a change that
programs which allowed people supported to contin-
we all had to adapt ourselves to as we wanted to en-
ue to enjoy activities. EPIC also applied for grants that
sure safety came first.
were approved to purchase engagement and comfort
By April 2020, EPIC had various PPE supplies for staff items during the pandemic. Items such as games,

to ensure their safety and to prevent the spread of technology, sensory items. These were provided to
COVID-19. EPIC developed a PPE protocol to ensure people supported in their group homes to promote
that each staff had the appropriate amount of PPE engagement and decrease behaviors since their rou-
when working their shifts. We also implemented a tine was changed due to COVID-19.
disinfecting schedule at all our sites to prevent any
Our Residential, Nursing and IT Team were able to
spread of COVID-19.
convert face to face medical appointments and as-
We built relationships with the local health depart- sessments to virtual sessions by ensuring homes had

ment and CDC which provides us with ongoing sup- the technology needed. This also provides various
port and assisted us with developing protocols such methods for communication for people we support
as our Outbreak Questionnaire entitled COVID-19 that wanted to see family but are unable to due to
Managers Guide. This protocol helped managers to COVID-19 preventative measures.
assess every COVID-19 case. EPIC’s Nursing Team de-

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