COLUMBICARE CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:
a message to our community
ColumbiaCare Continuing Services Amidst COVID-19~
ColumbiaCare’s services range from some of the most critical community programs, which are not only needed by our most vulnerable populations, but also help to protect and preserve other precious community resources (Emergency Departments and hospital staff so they can focus on those with medical needs; law enforcement and emergency responders so they can focus on other emergencies; and other additional community crisis systems). We also offer some services that, while VERY important, are less urgent to the immediate needs of those we serve and/or can be continued in a more remote way as we also work to keep everyone safe and healthy.
1. While it is difficult to share every program modification or plan given the breadth and complexity of our services across the State, we do want to share with you our general approach to ensuring that our most essential services continue, and that we are creating safe work and service environments for clients and staff. [We will also continue to provide our partners more individual program updates regularly so those can be shared with specific communities.]
2. Based on OHA and CDC guidelines, and due to a very quickly changing health and safety landscape, ColumbiaCare very early on formed a COVID-19 Team which includes experts such as medical staff, nurses, and clinical leaders. This Team quickly implemented program protocols to address and reduce risks associated with the COVID-19 virus. All recommendations from this team are guided by the daily review of information and requirements coming from the federal, state, and local level. These sources help guide our practices in real time to prioritize the safety of our staff, clients and community, while still continuing to provide the most critical services to our vulnerable populations.
In alignment with our COVID-19 Team recommendations, and also Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order directing us to facilitate telework and work-at-home by employees to the maximum extent possible, we have taken next steps which include: 1) identifying the most essential services to keep in place, 2) evaluating which services must be provided in-person, and 3) identifying which staff will absolutely be needed to be in the programs to do so, and limiting it to such, and 4) closely following safety practices for those clients and staff. At this time, these include the following categories:
Continuing Essential Service Programming Provided In-Person
3. As mentioned above, we have identified which services can be provided electronically (by video or phone) and what needs to be in place to support those changes for those positions to work remotely. We have transitioned continuing services as much as possible under this model.
Continuing Essential/Important Services & Supports Provided Remotely
Please note: Our administrative hubs are temporarily closed to the public with the exception of essential visitors.
This is a new experience for all of us and things are changing very quickly. We have kept as many employees working as possible, and as many services continuing as possible, in the safest way possible. We will continue to do all we can to minimize risk and make everyone’s health a top priority. We look forward to when things return back to normal for everyone, and we look forward to the day we can all come to work and provide our clients with fullness of services that we would prefer.
ColumbiaCare’s services range from some of the most critical community programs, which are not only needed by our most vulnerable populations, but also help to protect and preserve other precious community resources (Emergency Departments and hospital staff so they can focus on those with medical needs; law enforcement and emergency responders so they can focus on other emergencies; and other additional community crisis systems). We also offer some services that, while VERY important, are less urgent to the immediate needs of those we serve and/or can be continued in a more remote way as we also work to keep everyone safe and healthy.
1. While it is difficult to share every program modification or plan given the breadth and complexity of our services across the State, we do want to share with you our general approach to ensuring that our most essential services continue, and that we are creating safe work and service environments for clients and staff. [We will also continue to provide our partners more individual program updates regularly so those can be shared with specific communities.]
2. Based on OHA and CDC guidelines, and due to a very quickly changing health and safety landscape, ColumbiaCare very early on formed a COVID-19 Team which includes experts such as medical staff, nurses, and clinical leaders. This Team quickly implemented program protocols to address and reduce risks associated with the COVID-19 virus. All recommendations from this team are guided by the daily review of information and requirements coming from the federal, state, and local level. These sources help guide our practices in real time to prioritize the safety of our staff, clients and community, while still continuing to provide the most critical services to our vulnerable populations.
In alignment with our COVID-19 Team recommendations, and also Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order directing us to facilitate telework and work-at-home by employees to the maximum extent possible, we have taken next steps which include: 1) identifying the most essential services to keep in place, 2) evaluating which services must be provided in-person, and 3) identifying which staff will absolutely be needed to be in the programs to do so, and limiting it to such, and 4) closely following safety practices for those clients and staff. At this time, these include the following categories:
Continuing Essential Service Programming Provided In-Person
- Highly structured residential treatment programs requiring 24/7 awake staff
- Crisis Centers providing crisis stabilization and resolution services
- The most essential programming within our Outpatient Clinics that require in-person staff (E.g. Injections, rep payee services, more intensive case management when it is absolutely necessary to help a high needs client maintain stability in the community, mail service, etc.)
- Supportive housing programs where residents are dependent upon on-site/in-home staff
- Essential administrative support
3. As mentioned above, we have identified which services can be provided electronically (by video or phone) and what needs to be in place to support those changes for those positions to work remotely. We have transitioned continuing services as much as possible under this model.
Continuing Essential/Important Services & Supports Provided Remotely
- Outpatient Service programming (E.g. intakes, assessments, ongoing therapy, case management, psychiatric services/med management, etc.)
- Community-based services (e.g. Rental Assistance Programming, Veterans Administration Supportive Housing, Veterans Case Management, etc.)
- Administrative support
Please note: Our administrative hubs are temporarily closed to the public with the exception of essential visitors.
This is a new experience for all of us and things are changing very quickly. We have kept as many employees working as possible, and as many services continuing as possible, in the safest way possible. We will continue to do all we can to minimize risk and make everyone’s health a top priority. We look forward to when things return back to normal for everyone, and we look forward to the day we can all come to work and provide our clients with fullness of services that we would prefer.
PUBLISHED: 03.25.2020
ColumbiaCare Implements Safety Measures to Address COVID-19 Virus
ColumbiaCare takes the health and wellbeing of our staff and clients very seriously. Out of an abundance of caution, we are doing all we can to help create service environments and to deliver programming that will be the most safe for those providing care and those receiving it. Our leadership and medical teams have put together a responsible plan for addressing the risks posed by COVID-19, as well as reducing opportunities for exposure to, and/or transmission of, the Coronavirus as we continue to provide much needed services.
Plans include implementing best practices so all staff have accurate information about COVID-19; they understand and comply with stringent prevention activities and standards; can properly identify symptoms; and will respond quickly and safely should we have a staff member or client become ill or test positive for the virus. We will also equip our team with daily updates and instructions as new information and recommendations are announced by the Oregon Health Authority and CDC.
We share this information to assure our staff members, our clients, family and friends, and our partners that we remain abreast of the current status in Oregon, will diligently comply with all State recommendations for safe operations, and will continue to comprehensively and proactively take action to mitigate health risks.
PUBLISHED: 03.15.2020
Plans include implementing best practices so all staff have accurate information about COVID-19; they understand and comply with stringent prevention activities and standards; can properly identify symptoms; and will respond quickly and safely should we have a staff member or client become ill or test positive for the virus. We will also equip our team with daily updates and instructions as new information and recommendations are announced by the Oregon Health Authority and CDC.
We share this information to assure our staff members, our clients, family and friends, and our partners that we remain abreast of the current status in Oregon, will diligently comply with all State recommendations for safe operations, and will continue to comprehensively and proactively take action to mitigate health risks.
PUBLISHED: 03.15.2020