The Parkdale Center
Our Health & Safety Policies
Parkdale Center has updated its guidelines and procedures in order to minimize the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus) to our patients and healthcare workers (HCWs). These procedures were developed based on current data on COVID-19 as released from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and in accordance with the CDC and American Medical Association recommendations.
The main route of transmission of COVID-19 is through respiratory droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Any person who is in close contact with someone who has respiratory symptoms (e.g., sneezing, coughing, etc.) is at risk of being exposed to potentially infective respiratory droplets.
The following procedures are based on the latest CDC guidelines for businesses and health care providers, and they will be updated and when necessary:
- All new patients will be screened for potential exposure to COVID-19 prior to admission to Parkdale Center treatment program and must have a negative COVID test within 7-14 days of admission, and then will have the ability to be tested biweekly if necessary. Parkdale Center will supply information about testing locations if needed.
COVID Screening questions are based on CDC guidelines, and as follows:
- Have you or anyone in your household had any of the following symptoms in the last 21 days: sore throat, cough, chills, body aches for unknown reasons, shortness of breath for unknown reasons, loss of smell, loss of taste, fever at or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit?
- Have you or anyone in your household been tested for COVID-19?
- Have you or anyone in your household visited or received treatment in a hospital, nursing home, long-term care, or other health care facility in the past 30 days?
- Have you or anyone in your household traveled in the U.S. in the past 21 days?
- Have you or anyone in your household traveled on a cruise ship in the last 21 days?
- Are you or anyone in your household a health care provider or emergency responder?
- Have you or anyone in your household cared for an individual who is in quarantine or is a presumptive positive or has tested positive for COVID-19?
- Do you have any reason to believe you or anyone in your household has been exposed to or acquired COVID-19?
- To the best of your knowledge, have you been in close proximity to any individual who tested positive for COVID-19?
- If patient answers “yes” to any question, their responses should be reviewed by the chief medical officer to assess whether the patient can be admitted. Patients will be contacted again after decision-making.
- All Parkdale program participants will have temperatures taken daily. If over 100.4 degrees, then the chief medical officer will be contacted, and the patient shall self-quarantine and not participate in programming until medically cleared.
- If a current program participant is sick with a respiratory illness Parkdale Center will require him/her to self-quarantine and not participate in programming with other clients until he/she is feeling better and fever-free for at least 24 hours. This self-quarantine will be coordinated with Parkdale staff and may happen on-site or off-site (such as returning home) depending on the circumstances.
- All persons served will wear a face mask when social distancing cannot be avoided and minimize any unnecessary physical contact with other people.
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and for at least 20 seconds. Also, use commercially available hand sanitizers often.
- Assembling in small groups is not being discouraged at this time as long as face masks are worn, and social distancing is observed.
- We may limit outside visitation to Parkdale Center at any point and without advance notice. This may alter your previously scheduled family visitations. It may also change meeting schedules that include visitors from the public.
- Regular and frequent deep cleaning, and 3rd party disinfection and decontamination of the entire facility. Parkdale Center will provide patients with access of approved COVID Disinfecting Cleaners.
- Be sure that all dishes are not only washed but also put through the commercial sanitizer prior to use. This is already a health code requirement, but it becomes increasingly important now.
- Notify a staff member immediately if you believe you were exposed to someone with the COVID-19 virus. We believe the time is quickly approaching when we will all have some type of confirmed exposure. Do not withhold this information.
- The chief medical officer may order COVID testing to be performed by an outside lab if person served expresses concern of exposure or has signs or symptoms of COVID-19.