COVID Chronicle

The earliest COVID-19 outbreaks in the US were in congregant living situations, so we entered the preparation phase of this pandemic with special care and attention towards our long-term care facilities and partners. Early communication with patients and families about the steps we were taking and why they were being taken were a key consideration. For patients living away from their families, we wanted to ensure that they felt supported and that their families would continue to feel connected to their care.

Early on Holly Macrae, LMCSW Palliative Care, knew that the patients of Northern Light Home Care & Hospice would be especially vulnerable to isolation. She posted the need for old iPads on her social media, hoping to round up enough to give to the clients without access. It turned out she wasn’t the only one worried about this because the next day an opportunity for grant funding appeared to meet the need. While standing up the use of the iPads for both socialization and Zoom visits with providers has taken some work, Home Care & Hospice staff, along with our IS team, have gone the extra mile to ensure patient safety and privacy and help some of our most vulnerable patients feel connected. Facilitating Technology Use

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