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Update: April 28, 2020

  • It’s Tuesday, April 28, 2020.
  • State Stats: 27,068 COVID-19 cases in 64/64 parishes with 1,697 deaths and 17,303 recovered. Hospitalizations are down to 1,683, and the number of patients on vents is down to 262 patients.
  • Governor Edwards has extended the stay-at- home mandate to May 15th. Louisiana has not met the Federal criteria to enter Phase I of reopening the economy. Those criteria are: 14 days of 1) fewer patients seeking care for COVID-19 symptoms; 2) fewer new confirmed cases and 3) fewer hospitalizations. One-third of regions are still showing increases in these areas. All non-essential businesses must remained closed, with the following exceptions:
    • Restaurants may allow take-out diners to eat at outside seating areas while observing social distancing, but table-side service will not be allowed.
    • Malls must remain closed but may offer curbside delivery.
    • Nonessential retail may allow 10 customers at a time while social distancing.
    • Churches may allow gatherings of up to 10 people while social distancing.
    • Businesses with employees who deal with the public MUST have those employees mask.
  • Leadership is discussing how these new guidelines will impact North Oaks and will announce the plan on tomorrow’s call at 10 a.m.
  • North Oaks Stats: We have 19 COVID-19 positive patients in-house with 7 PUI; 4 patients are on vents. We successfully discharged another 4 COVID-19 patients, bringing our total to 118.
  • Employee Wellness reports 14 employees self-monitoring at home; 4 employees were cleared to return to work yesterday, and 2 more will be evaluated today.
  • Population Health reports a typically busy Monday, with 103 calls and 13 video visits. The drive through testing station did 71 tests yesterday. The station is closed today, and will reopen on Wednesday and Friday this week. In total we have tested 1,806 patients with 411 positives and 83 pending.
  • We are experiencing an increase in diagnostic testing and physical therapy as we see an uptick in patient care and procedures that can no longer be delayed or are time-sensitive. All diagnostic testing should be scheduled in advance (no walk-ins.) Temperature checks will be performed on all patients arriving for testing or PT. If the patient being tested has a fever, patient access will contact the Chief Medical Officer for guidance. If a PT patient has a temperature, they will be turned away and asked to contact their PCP or the ordering physician for instructions. All patients will be required to mask. We will encourage patients to wear their own mask, but if they do not have one, a mask will be provided to them. Please check the COVID-19 toolkit for information on the safe use and maintenance of cloth masks for you and your family.
  • Amanda thanked everyone for their quick response on guidance pertaining to donning, wearing and doffing PPE, ensuring correct signage and tidying up areas outside patient rooms. She rounded yesterday afternoon and things looked great. Remember that liquid Quat is available for disinfecting common areas.
  • If you work at the bedside of a COVID-19 positive patient or PUI, it is appropriate to ask the patient to mask if you are going to be within 3-4 feet of the patient, and if the patient can tolerate a mask.
  • Michael reports that supplies are looking good, but we should still be vigilant in our use to ensure sufficient supplies as we begin to ramp up our volume. We remain at “Contingency” status (we have not moved to “Conventional” or normal supply status), because we are unsure of our supply chain. Michael also thanked Toni Shirey, Jim Ahrend and Gina McAndrews for their help in monitoring and tracking supplies.
  • Community support continues to be incredible. Deliveries of food and goodies are scheduled for the remainder of the week.