COVID-19 FAQ

We follow the guidelines that have been developed by the CDC and the local department of health.  We have a dedicated team of corporate nurses who average over 20 years of experience and are continuously reviewing all new guidance in order to incorporate the latest recommendations.  We also participate in a local coalition with hospital leaders from our geographic area.  This zone-based coalition ensures that we have open communication channels with hospital partners regarding local COVID-19 trends and available community resources. 

Yes, when providing direct care to new admissions, our staff wears masks, gowns, face shields and other necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).  We follow the guidance from the CDC regarding PPE use for new admissions, which is designed to keep residents and our staff as safe as possible. 

With the “community spread” that has become prevalent in our area, public places and healthcare institutions could be a potential source of exposure to COVID-19.  We have developed a process to minimize the risk to our long-term residents by limiting exposure to new admissions.  Prior to accepting a new admission, the hospital sends our staff a COVID-19 screen to identify any potential risk factors for that person.  If available, the hospital also performs a COVID-19 test prior to resident admission to our facility.  All new admissions will be monitored for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. New admissions not up to date with vaccinations will be quarantined for the first 10 days of their stay.  Staff providing care in this area follows PPE guidance from the CDC to reduce the risk of cross-contamination to other residents. 

Yes, we encourage all residents to wear masks when out of their rooms or interacting with staff.  We provide surgical masks for those that are able to wear masks safely.  For those residents who are medically confirmed to be unable to wear masks, we encourage them to cover their faces with other safe coverings while receiving care from our staff.  We also encourage all residents to practice social distancing when around other residents.

Our facility has required all staff to wear medical masks since the middle of March, which is a couple weeks prior to the CDC making it mandatory for nursing homes.  Trying to protect residents from exposure to COVID-19 remains our top infection control priority.

Our Environmental Services team is also dedicated to infection control.  In addition to their regular cleaning schedule, they are disinfecting high touch areas, like doors, phones and access buttons, more frequently.

Our staff participates in regular staff education sessions regarding infection control.  A broad range of topics are covered including how to put on and take off personal protective equipment (PPE), proper handwashing technique and the importance of wearing medical masks at work.  We have also created a staff resource page so they can access accurate, relevant information anytime.

If we have a resident test positive for COVID-19, we begin monitoring all staff and residents more frequently for signs and symptoms of the virus.  We follow the guidance from the local health department on any other necessary control strategies, like further testing, quarantine, or additional PPE use.

If a staff member tests positive for COVID-19, we begin monitoring all staff and residents more frequently for signs and symptoms of the virus.  We follow the guidance from the local health department on any other necessary control strategies, like further testing, quarantine, or additional PPE use.

Yes.  National personal protective equipment shortages have been highlighted throughout this pandemic.  Legacy Health Services began working very early in the pandemic to secure an adequate supply chain of PPE.  This has been a substantial investment, of both time and financial resources, but has been very beneficial for our staff and residents .  At this time, we have an adequate supply of PPE for our staff to comply with CDC and local health department guidance.  We continue to source new supply chain options so that our supply of PPE remains adequate.

The State of Ohio has created a PPE stockpile to help support congregate living settings, like nursing facilities, who face PPE shortages.  You can read more about this initiative HERE.

For information about our outdoor visitation policy, please visit our facility page for the requirements and how to schedule an outdoor visit.  We also offer Skype Virtual Visitation for those who are unable to visit in person.  Details on scheduling a virtual visitation can also be found of our facility page. 

We have developed a protocol for deliveries to try to reduce the risk of viral spread.  For more information on our policy regarding drop offs and deliveries, please visit our facility page and look for the Latest News section. 

There is a lot of information (and misinformation) available about COVID-19 online.  It is important to use trusted sources for COVID-19 information.  For the most accurate, reliable information about COVID-19, please visit the State of Ohio Coronavirus Homepage or the CDC Coronavirus Homepage.