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Due to the increased community spread of COVID-19 infection and the Governor declaring Riverhead and other surrounding communities a Yellow Zone status, Peconic Bay Medical Center has temporarily suspended all visitation at our hospital. See the latest Visitor Policies here

Pandemic Emergency Plan

PECONIC BAY SKILLED NURSING FACILITY PANDEMIC EMERGENCY PLAN

On June 17, 2020 Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into Law Chapter 114 of the Laws of 2020 creating a new subdivision 12 to section 2803 of the Public Health Law. The new subdivision requires each residential health care facility in New York State to prepare a Pandemic Emergency Plan (PEP). The following is the PEP for Peconic Bay Skilled Nursing Facility.

I. COMMUNICATION PLAN:
Peconic Bay Skilled Nursing Facility will institute a communication plan to patients, residents, authorized family members and guardians during a pandemic.  The following are the components and associated policies of the Communication Plan:

Upon admission to the facility, the Admissions Department will contact the authorized family member or guardian regarding the method of communication they wish to receive for the following:

  • Daily updates for residents infected with a pandemic related disease;
  • Weekly updates on the number of pandemic related infections and deaths.

The Admissions Department will document the consent for the method of communication in the Admission’s Department patient file.

Daily updates if a patient/resident is infected with the pandemic infectious disease:

  1. Upon initial diagnosis of the pandemic infectious disease or if there is a change in condition related to the pandemic infectious disease, the attending physician/designee will contact the authorized family member or guardian of the patient/resident.  This communication will be documented in the EMR.                                                                                                                  
  2. The Registered Nurse/Designee will provide all other daily communications to the authorized family member or guardian for the duration that the patient/resident is infected with pandemic infectious disease.  This communication will be documented in the EMR.

Daily/Weekly Administrative Updates via the Peconic Bay Skilled Nursing Facility Information Line (631)548-6307:

On a daily basis by 12:00 pm, the Executive Director/Designee will leave a message on the Peconic Bay Information Line with the following information:

  • The number of patients or residents and staff with new positive infection/tests of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours;
  • The number of patients or residents admitted to the facility who are COVID-19 positive in the last 24 hours;
  • The number of patients or residents who suffered a COVID-19 related death in the last 24 hours; and
  • The occurrence of three or more patients, residents or staff with new onset of respiratory symptoms occurring within 72 hours of each other;
  • Mitigating actions implemented to prevent or reduce the risk of transmission, including if normal operations of the facility will be altered;
  • If there are no cases to report on any of the above, the message will reflect that as well.
  • Visitation Guidelines

On a weekly basis, the Peconic Bay Information Line will also include a cumulative update of the following:

  • The number of patients or residents and staff with new positive infection/tests of COVID-19 in the last 7 days;
  • The number of patients or residents admitted to the facility who are COVID-19 positive in the last 7 days;
  • The number of patients or residents who suffered a COVID-19 related death in the last 7 days; and
  • The occurrence of three or more patients, residents or staff with new onset of respiratory symptoms occurring within 72 hours of each other in the last 7 days.
  • If there are no cases to report of any of the above, the message will reflect that as well.

Access to Free Remote Videoconferencing:

Peconic Bay offers free WiFi to all patients and residents in the facility.  Patients, residents and families can access videoconferencing via their own smartphones by connecting to the Peconic Bay Wi-Fi network and utilizing Face Time, Googlr Duo, Zoom or Skype.  In addition, Peconic Bay offers free access to Lap-Tops/ iPads/ Kindles 7 days per week for patients and residents to utilize for videoconferencing with family as well.  Patients, residents and families can contact the Recreation Department at 631-548-6268 or the Nursing Station at 631-548-6260 to schedule a time to utilize a communication Device.  

Associated Polices:

  • Covid-19 Communication to residents/patients families.

II. INFECTION PROTECTION PLAN:
Peconic Bay Skilled Nursing Facility will institute an infection prevention plan to help ensure the health and safety of patients, residents and staff.  The following are the components and associated policies of the Infection Prevention Plan:
Plan for readmission of residents to the facility after hospitalization:
If a patient/resident has been hospitalized without being given a bed-hold, the patient/resident shall be readmitted to the facility immediately upon the first availability of a bed in a semi-private room if the patient/resident:

  1. Requires the services provided by the facility; and
  2. Is eligible for Medicare skilled nursing services or Medicaid nursing home services.

Plan to reduce transmission in the event there are only one or a few residents with the pandemic disease:
When there are only one or a few residents with pandemic disease:

  • Residents/Patients will be cohorted on part of a unit, such as at the end of a hallway.
  • The residents/patients with pandemic disease will not share a bathroom with residents outside the cohort.
  • The area for residents/patients with pandemic disease will be demarcated as a reminder for healthcare personnel (i.e. signage in hallways).
  • Residents/patients will be prevented from entering the area of pandemic disease. Actions taken to prevent this will include, but not be limited to hallway signage, closing
  • fire doors and informing non-pandemic infected residents/patient both verbally and in writing (i.e signage/flyers) of closed areas in the facility.  

Determining cohorting needs and capabilities:
On a regular basis, the administration of Peconic Bay will evaluate our capabilities for cohorting patients/residents with pandemic disease.  This evaluation will include, but is not limited to, current census, availability of open beds/units, clinical capabilities, pandemic disease needs and requirement, and staffing levels.  If it is determined that Peconic Bay cannot set up cohort areas or can no longer sustain cohorting efforts, the Administrator will notify the regional and county offices of the Department of Health.  

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Supply:
Based on New York State requirements, Northwell Health Peconic Bay Skilled Nursing Facility will maintain a 60-day supply of PPE in combination of on-hand at the facility and stored at the Northwell Health Integrated Distribution Center (IDC).  The 60-day supply will be based on the COVID-19 PPE data reported by Peconic Bay on the daily NYSDOH HERDS survey during the period of April 19-April 27, 2020.

Peconic Bay recognizes that the 60-day supply that was established is based on PPE utilized during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis in New York.  Another pandemic crisis in the future may require different types and amounts of PPE to be utilized.  Peconic Bay will work closely with the Northwell Health Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Northwell Health Office of Procurement, The New York State Department of Health and the Nassau County Health Department to determine the PPE requirements as they arise during a future pandemic.

PPE will be utilized for patients, residents and staff in order to continue to provide services and supports in our facility.  PPE supplies to be maintained on site and at the Northwell IDC include, but are not limited to:

  • N95 respirators
  • Face shields
  • Eye protection
  • Gowns/isolation gowns
  • Gloves
  • Masks
  • Sanitizer and disinfectants in accordance with current EPA Guidance

Associated Policies:

  • PPE Procurement
  • SNF Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Management Guidelines
  • COVID-19 Guidelines for Extended Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donning and Doffing/Glove Utilization
  • Hand Hygiene Guideline
  • COVID-19: Guideline for the Cohorting of Residents/Patients
  • Covid-19 Communication to residents/patients families.

III. PLAN FOR PRESERVING A PATIENT/RESIDENT’S PLACE AT THE FACILITY WHEN HOSPITALIZED
If a patient/resident has been hospitalized without being given a bed-hold, the patient/resident shall be readmitted to the facility immediately upon the first availability of a bed in a semi-private room if the patient/resident:

  1. Requires the services provided by the facility; and
  2. Is eligible for Medicare skilled nursing services or Medicaid nursing home services.