2/23/2021

Last week we tested all staff of Zumbrota Health Services. Results are shown below. We continue to work with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and are following COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  As of today, the MDH is not recommending any changes to our visitation process.

• Zumbrota Care Center – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive this week. Testing staff weekly due to county positivity rates.
• Bridges of Zumbrota – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive.

Visitation will occur in the Day Room by appointment (not in resident rooms/apartments). In order to have an indoor visit, please follow the below guidance:

• Proof of a negative COVID test within 5 days prior must provided. If you would like to be tested during our routine testing, please reach out to Laura Erickson, Administrator, at 507-732-8132. This applies to visitors who will be visiting on a regular basis, otherwise COVID tests may be obtained elsewhere.
• 2 people may visit at one time.
• For the Care Center: Visits will be held in the Day Room and visitors will enter/exit through Day Room door.
• For the Bridges: Visitors will enter/exit through the main entrance.
• Visits are up to 25 minutes.

Zumbrota Care Center time slots starting every half hour will be available:

• Tuesday from 1-4 pm
• Wednesday from 10-11:30 am
• Thursday from 10-11:30 am
• Friday from 1-4 pm

Please contact Lacey Boesen, Activity Director, at lboesen@zhs.sfhs.org or 507-732-8409 to set up an indoor visit.

Bridges of Zumbrota time slots starting every half hour will be available:

• Monday from 10-11:30 am and 1-3 pm
• Wednesday from 10-11:30 am and 1-3 pm
• Friday 10-11:30 am and 1-3 pm
• Alternate times by appointment

Please contact Virginia Cooper at 507-732-8455 or Barb Konter at 507-732-8412 to set up an indoor visit. Visits must be set up at least 24 hours in advance.

Currently, vaccines are being distributed to adults 65 and older, educators, school staff, child care workers, health care workers, and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. We have received many calls requesting information about vaccinations. If you qualify in one of the above categories, please check the state’s online vaccine locations map (https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp) or contact your health care provider about appointment availability. Our staff and residents continue to have opportunities for on-site vaccinations through our pharmacy partnership. Our next clinic is on 3/8/2021.

Minnesota continues to see new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as MN lessons the restrictions in public areas.  The numbers of cases and attributable deaths are declining as vaccinations roll out. State and local health officials continue to stress social distancing, mask use, and frequent hand washing or sanitizing.

A couple of weeks ago, the Minnesota Association for Geriatrics Inspired Clinicians (MAGIC) launched a new video resource to help providers in our community to address hesitations and misinformation related to the COVID vaccine. MAGIC COVID Vaccination Video was developed to provide accurate and up to date information and dispel myths regarding the vaccine. The goal is to increase vaccination rates, specifically among frontline health care workers, by providing meaningful information from a trusted source that allows them to make an educated decision.

With vaccinations becoming more prevalent, and knowledge that vaccinations are providing a positive impact in reduction of active outbreaks; it is frustrating that use of PPE and visitation constraints must continue within our care centers.  Until the CDC and MDH have supporting science to assure the spread of COVID-19 is reduced with vaccinations, we are required to maintain the same infection control protocol.  

Looking for ways to help? We have a variety of positions available with flexible scheduling and on the job training. For more information or to apply, visit www.jobswithus.org, search “Zumbrota.”

Don’t forget to get your flu shot this season to help protect our community. Please follow our Facebook page (@Zumbrota Health Services) or our website (www.zhs.sfhs.org) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening inside our care center. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Laura Erickson, Administrator, at 507-732-8132 or by email at lerickson@zhs.sfhs.org if you have any questions or concerns.

2/05/2021

This week we tested all staff of Zumbrota Health Services. Results are shown below. We continue to work with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and are following COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

• Zumbrota Care Center – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive this week. Indoor visits began this past week. Testing staff weekly due to county positivity rates.
• Bridges of Zumbrota – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. Indoor visitation will begin on Wednesday, 2/10.

Visitation will occur in the Day Room by appointment (not in resident rooms/apartments). In order to have an indoor visit, please follow the below guidance:

• Proof of a negative COVID test within 5 days prior must provided. If you would like to be tested during our routine testing, please reach out to Laura Erickson, Administrator, at 507-732-8132. This applies to visitors who will be visiting on a regular basis, otherwise COVID tests may be obtained elsewhere.
• 2 people may visit at one time.
• For the Care Center: Visits will be held in the Day Room and visitors will enter/exit through Day Room door.
• For the Bridges: Visitors will enter/exit through the main entrance.
• Visits are up to 25 minutes.

Zumbrota Care Center time slots starting every half hour will be available:

• Tuesday, 2/9, from 1-4 pm
• Wednesday, 2/10 from 10-11:30 am
• Thursday, 2/11 from 10-11:30 am
• Friday, 2/12 from 1-4 pm

Please contact Lacey Boesen, Activity Director, at lboesen@zhs.sfhs.org or 507-732-8409 to set up an indoor visit.

Bridges of Zumbrota time slots starting every half hour will be available:

• Wednesday, 2/10 from 10-11:30 am and 1-3 pm
• Friday, 2/12 10-11:30 am and 1-3 pm

Please contact Barb Konter at 507-732-8412 to set up an indoor visit. Visits must be set up at least 24 hours in advance.

The CDC released a report that indicates a national average vaccination rate for care center residents of 77.8% and of care center staff, 37.5%. Minnesota is in a category with higher rates for both, with more than 80% of residents and more than 40% of staff. As of Wednesday of this week, 70,049 residents and staff of Minnesota’s long term care centers have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We are excited to announce we are conducting our second vaccine clinic on 2/8, giving many residents and staff their second dose of the Moderna vaccine! We will be hosting our 3^rd clinic on date on 3/8. As of today, 78% of Care Center residents and 42% of Care Center employees have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine. For the Bridges of Zumbrota, 93% of tenants and 75% of employees received their first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine.

This weekend, residents at the Care Center plan to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday by showing the Super Bowl game and having special snacks. We want to remind our friends and family that may be participating in Super Bowl activities to please social distance, wear a mask, and wash or sanitize your hands often.

Looking for ways to help? We have a variety of positions available with flexible scheduling and on the job training. For more information or to apply, visit www.jobswithus.org, search “Zumbrota.”

Don’t forget to get your flu shot this season to help protect our community. Please follow our Facebook page (@Zumbrota Health Services) or our website (www.zhs.sfhs.org) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening inside our care center. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Laura Erickson, Administrator, at 507-732-8132 or by email at lerickson@zhs.sfhs.org if you have any questions or concerns.

1/29/2021

This week we tested all staff of Zumbrota Health Services. Results are shown below. We continue to work with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and are following COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

• Zumbrota Care Center – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive this week. Indoor visits will be starting next week. Testing staff weekly due to county positivity rates.
• Bridges of Zumbrota – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. No indoor visitation at this time.

We plan to open for indoor visits for the Care Center on Tuesday, 2/2. The start of indoor visitation for Bridges of Zumbrota will be announced. Visitation will occur in the Day Room by appointment (not in resident rooms).

• Proof of a negative COVID test from 2-3 days prior must provided. If you would like to be tested during our routine testing, please reach out to Laura Erickson, Administrator, at 507-732-8132.
• 2 people may visit at one time.
• Visits will be held in the Day Room and visitors will enter/exit through Day Room door.
• Visits are up to 25 minutes.
• One visit per resident per week at this time, to allow all residents and opportunity to see friends/family.

Time slots starting every half hour will be available:

• Tuesday, 2/2, from 1-4 pm
• Wednesday, 2/3 from 10-11:30 am
• Thursday, 2/4 from 10-11:30 am
• Friday, 2/5 from 1-4 pm.

Please contact Lacey Boesen, Activity Director, at lboesen@zhs.sfhs.org or 507-732-8409 to set up an indoor visit.

This week, MDH health officials contacted a computerized random selection of Minnesotans aged 65 and up, who signed up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Unfortunately, with only 11,700 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to give away, many on this list will not receive the vaccine this week. If you were not contacted on Wednesday, your name will remain on the list for the next round of vaccine distributions. For staff and residents at our care center and assisted living, our next vaccination date is on 2/8.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and like previous holidays throughout the COVID Pandemic, must be celebrated cautiously. MDH and CDC have not changed guidance regarding residents leaving our care centers during the pandemic and do require residents to quarantine upon return. With any holiday this year, we have seen an increase of visits requested. Please remember to plan ahead and schedule your virtual visit or, if available, indoor visits, with Lacey Boesen, lboesen@zhs.sfhs.or or 507-732-8409 as soon as possible.

Looking for ways to help? We have a variety of positions available with flexible scheduling and on the job training. For more information or to apply, visit www.jobswithus.org, search “Zumbrota.”

Don’t forget to get your flu shot this season to help protect our community. Please follow our Facebook page (@Zumbrota Health Services) or our website (www.zhs.sfhs.org) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening inside our care center. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Laura Erickson, Administrator, at 507-732-8132 or by email at lerickson@zhs.sfhs.org if you have any questions or concerns.

This week we tested all staff of Zumbrota Health Services. Results are shown below. We continue to work with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and are following COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

• Zumbrota Care Center – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive this week. No indoor visitation at this time. Testing staff weekly due to county positivity rates.

• Bridges of Zumbrota – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. No indoor visitation at this time. Testing staff weekly due to county positivity.

This week, Minnesota is beginning a new COVID-19 vaccine pilot program. There will be nine vaccine sites that will serve persons 65 years of age and older as well as prek-12th grade educators, school staff, and child care workers. All appointments available for the nine sites were immediately booked. These sites will begin administering vaccines at the end of this week.

We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and determination of our community to be vaccinated and help protect our most vulnerable from the COVID-19 virus. The CDC has released data proving that this Pandemic has disproportionately affected seniors. From May 2020 to August 2020, 78% of COVID-19 deaths were aged 65 and older. As a reminder, our care center will be hosting 3 separate clinics for vaccinations for our staff and residents. Any residents or staff members who were unable to attend the first clinic are encouraged to attend the 2nd and 3rd clinics for their free vaccinations. Our next clinic is on 2/8.

Looking for ways to help? We have a variety of positions available with flexible scheduling and on the job training. For more information or to apply, visit www.jobswithus.org, search “Zumbrota.”

Don’t forget to get your flu shot this season to help protect our community. Please follow our Facebook page (@Zumbrota Health Services) or our website (www.zhs.sfhs.org) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening inside our care center. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Laura Erickson, Administrator, at 507-732-8132 or by email at lerickson@zhs.sfhs.org if you have any questions or concerns.

We are so excited to share that today we closed our COVID unit!! The last resident graduated off the unit this morning and returned to their room. We had 15 residents total get COVID, 12 have vaccinated off the unit, and 3 passed away.

This week we tested all staff of Zumbrota Health Services. Results are shown below. We continue to work with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and are following COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

• Zumbrota Care Center – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive this week. No indoor visitation at this time. Testing staff weekly due to county positivity rates.

• Bridges of Zumbrota – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. No indoor visitation at this time. Testing staff weekly due to county positivity.

Please be patient about changes in safety protocols as vaccinations roll out across Minnesota. Even though the vaccine is here, the virus is still being transmitted throughout our state and we need to continue to be cautious to protect the health and well-being of residents and staff.

Until we receive updated guidance from the State, we ask that everyone, even those not connected directly with our care center, continue infection prevention and control practices. Please wear a mask, wash your hands, don’t touch your face when you’re out and stay home if you’re feeling sick. These measures will help keep the positivity rate low and allow our care center to host safe and socially distanced visitation for residents.

Looking for ways to help? We have a variety of positions available with flexible scheduling and on the job training. For more information or to apply, visit www.jobswithus.org, search “Zumbrota.”

Don’t forget to get your flu shot this season to help protect our community. Please follow our Facebook page (@Zumbrota Health Services) or our website (www.zhs.sfhs.org) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening inside our care center. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Laura Erickson, Administrator, at 507-732-8132 or by email at lerickson@zhs.sfhs.org if you have any questions or concerns.

1/7/2021

This week we tested all staff of Zumbrota Health Services. Results are shown below. We continue to work with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and are following COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

• Zumbrota Care Center – 0 residents and 0 staff tested positive this week. No indoor visitation at this time. Testing staff twice weekly due to county positivity rates.
• Bridges of Zumbrota – 0 tenants and 0 staff tested positive. No indoor visitation at this time. Testing staff weekly due to county positivity.

Summary of COVID situation at ZCC: 15 residents contracted the virus, 6 have graduated back to their permanent rooms, 6 are still quarantined, and 3 passed away. 15 staff members have contracted the virus and all have them have recovered.

We are ringing in the New Year with new hope and excitement. We will administer our first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in our care center on 1/11. Interim Director of Nursing Kim Holland says, “I’m getting the COVID-19 vaccine because I want to be able to reopen the care center so families can see their loved ones!”

Regarding Assisted Living buildings, the MDH, Preferred Pharmacies and the Public Health Departments are currently working on a plan to start vaccinating tenants and staff.  We are anticipating vaccines to be administered at Bridges of Zumbrota in the coming weeks.  If you would like to become an Essential Caregiver for your tenant so they can have some contact with their loved ones, please call Virginia Cooper, Housing Director, at 507-732-8455.

We have prepared a Frequently Asked Questions to help you understand why the vaccine is so important in defeating COVID-19. You can find this along with the Moderna Fact Sheet, on our website at sfhs.org/resources/covid-19/. If you have any other concerns or questions, please contact Kim Holland, IDON/Infection Control Specialist at (507) 732-8414.

We will continue following our infection prevention and control practices along with the latest guidance from MDH and CDC regarding safe visiting for our residents. As of today, our care center plans to open for indoor visits the week of 1/18 as long as there are no more positive COVID tests. We will continue regular communication with our residents, friends and family on our COVID response, visitation guidelines and testing results.

Looking for ways to help? We have a variety of positions available with flexible scheduling and on the job training. For more information or to apply, visit www.jobswithus.org, search “Zumbrota.”

Don’t forget to get your flu shot this season to help protect our community. Please follow our Facebook page (@Zumbrota Health Services) or our website (www.zhs.sfhs.org) for all COVID updates and information on what is happening inside our care center. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Laura Erickson, Administrator, at 507-732-8132 or by email at lerickson@zhs.sfhs.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Dear Family and Friends of ZHS,

We are so excited to share that our first two residents “graduated” from the COVID unit yesterday!! It was wonderful to welcome them back to their permanent rooms. We look forward to more residents graduating off the unit in the next few days.

Currently, we have had fifteen residents total who have contracted the virus. Ten residents remain on the unit until their quarantine periods end. Two residents graduated today from the unit. Sadly, three residents on the COVID unit passed away over the last few weeks. We miss them and cherish their memories, as I’m sure their families do even more.

We are so grateful for the staff who continue caring for our residents who have COVID, as well as those who are healthy. Residents, staff, and you have had struggles through these last several months, and I think the last few weeks at ZHS have increased that stress, strain, and struggle for all. As we look forward to a new year, we hope for fresh starts, a better year, and health. Nothing makes you realize what you have so much as when you lose it.

Vaccine update: ZHS (the Care Center) will be receiving vaccines mid-January for residents and staff. The facility will be receiving the Moderna vaccine and Thrifty White Pharmacy will be administering it. We are hopeful that this will provide immunity for both residents and staff, and help our lives move closer to the “normal” we knew before March. In the next couple of weeks, you will be contacted by our facility for consent for vaccination if your loved one is unable to make their own decisions. Lastly, we were just informed yesterday that one of our staff member’s tested positive for COVID-19. The staff person has not had contact with the residents, and we are hopeful there will be no spread among staff as all staff are wearing proper PPE. ZHS continues to follow strict infection control practices prescribed by MDH and the CDC.

Thank you for all your thoughtfulness and consideration, as you have generously given gifts for staff and sent cards of thanks. That really does mean the world to hear an encouraging word.

May you have a blessed and healthy new year!

Laura Erickson

Administrator