Visitation PreBID Meeting~3.docx

Policy and Procedure: Visitation Guidelines for State-Operated Psychiatric Hospitals Adopted: 2/23/21 Revised: 3/25/21, 4/6/21, 6/1/21, 6/21/21, 8/10/21

Policy: The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health recognizes the right of all persons served in State-Operated Psychiatric Hospitals (SOPH’s) to receive regularly scheduled visits. Visitation by family members, friends, and guardians is extremely important to the health, happiness, and well-being of persons served. Following Illinois Department of Public Health’s Updated Interim Guidance for Nursing Homes and Other Long-Term Care Facilities and Programs: Phased Reopening (1), DMH has developed the following policy and procedure to ensure safe visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy and procedure is consistent with IDPH Long term care guidance updated on August 6, 2021.

I. Procedure:

1) Per IDPH guidelines when a facility that is not in outbreak status has a new COVID-19 positive case, all visitation except compassionate care will stop until all staff/residents (regardless of vaccination status) in the affected area(s) are tested within 3 days for COVID 19. Affected areas will be quarantined during this time period.

2) SOPH’s that have a confined outbreak as determined by contact tracing and testing of affected/exposed staff and residents, may continue indoor visitation for those areas currently not in quarantine or isolation in addition to compassionate care visits.

3) SOPH’s that have larger scale outbreaks as determined by IDPH may have compassionate care visits.

4) This fact sheet will be provided to guardians and printed copies made available at the visitor’s lobby. Visitors are required to comply with the facility’s visitation policy. If a visitor refuses to follow the facility’s policy during the visit, then staff may end the visit.

5) No visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed to visit.

6) Visitation hours when staff are available for screening and supervision of visits will be determined by each facility and posted on every unit/living area.

7) Visitors will be screened on arrival and have their temperature taken.

8) In the event that a resident is ill on the day of the visit, the visitation will need to be rescheduled.

9) Indoor visitation is permitted for all residents except as noted below:

• Indoor visitation for unvaccinated residents should be limited solely to compassionate care situations if the COVID-19 county positivity rate is >10% and <70% of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated.

• Indoor visitation should be limited solely to compassionate care situations, for:

· Vaccinated and unvaccinated residents with SARS-CoV-2 infection until they have met criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions.

· Vaccinated and unvaccinated residents in quarantine until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.

II. Visitors:

1) It is recommended that visitors contact the facility in advance of a visit to ensure the area is not in outbreak status.

2) Visitors should arrive early to allow time for checkpoint screenings prior to visitation.

3) Visitors will be allowed access to locations designated for the visit, not to other areas of the facility.

4) All visitors must enter the facility through a checkpoint location and will be screened using a CDC symptom checklist and have their temperature taken. Any visitor that answers “yes” to any question or has a temperature higher than 100 F will not be allowed to visit. Visitors will not be allowed to visit who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days, who have been exposed to an individual who is suspected or known to be COVID-19 positive within the last 14 days, or who are currently displaying COVID-19 like symptoms.

5) Visitors will be asked to provide their name, address, telephone, and email address (if available) prior to visitation. This information along with the date and time of the visit will be retained according to current visitation log retention policy and may be made available to state and local health departments for inspection and, as needed, for contact tracing. This information must be retained for at least 30 days.

6) Upon entry, all visitors will be asked to notify the Hospital Administrator or designee if they develop symptoms of COVID-19 within 3 days after visiting.

7) Any visitor displaying observable symptoms of COVID-19 like illness will not be permitted on campus.

8) Visitors must self-disclose any contact with a COVID-19 positive person within the last 14 days and anyone who has had such contact will be prohibited from visiting.

9) In the event that a resident is ill, the visitation will be rescheduled.

10) All visitors must use hand sanitizer upon arrival at the facility and throughout the visit, as needed.

11) Visitors must use hand sanitizer and/or wash their hands prior to interaction with the resident.

12) All visitor must wear face masks throughout the entirety of the visit. An approved (CDC/IDPH) surgical mask will be provided for visitors who do not their own face mask and must be worn covering both the nose and mouth throughout the entire visit.

a. In the event the resident refuses to wear a mask, the visitor will also be supplied eye protection (face shield or eye goggles) which must be worn (along with face mask) throughout the entire visit.

b. If the resident wears a face mask the visitor may wear a cloth mask/face covering and will not be required to wear eye protection.

13) Fully vaccinated residents can choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitors. Regardless, visitors should physically distance from other residents and staff in the facility.

14) If the resident is not fully vaccinated the visitor should remain 6 feet apart from the resident during the visitation.

15) Compassionate Care will be allowed at each facility on a case by case basis, following Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) review and Hospital Administrator approval. The following link speaks to this area: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus/long-term-care-guidance

III. Staff Members:

1) Visits should occur in large rooms that allow for adequate social distancing. The visitation space should be measured to determine the number of residents and visitors that can be accommodated at one time in that areas with at least 6-foot separation between residents and their visitors. Facilities will post the maximum number of residents and visitors that can occupy the area.

2) If possible, visitation rooms should have a window open to allow for ventilation.

3) Markings will be placed on the floor to show how visitors can place themselves with at least six-foot separation required for residents or visitors.

4) Signage will be posted to remind visitors about six-foot separation, face covering, and hand hygiene.

5) The room must be equipped with hand sanitizer and have an EPA registered List N Disinfectant available for use.

6) When the resident returns to the unit/living area they will thoroughly wash their hands.

7) A staff member will supervise visitation areas with multiple stations. Staff members will wear face masks and face shields and maintain social distancing of six feet from visitors.

8) Staff will remind families that zero-physical contact of any kind with the resident will be allowed for those residents that are not fully vaccinated. For fully vaccinated residents that have physical contact with their visitor, both the visitor and individual will be reminded to sanitize their hands after the contact.

9) The visitation room or designated visitation space in a large area must be thoroughly disinfected after each visit, prior to another use of the room/area. Allow for 15 minutes of time following each disinfection before the next use of the room. The visitation room should contain only non-porous furniture that can be effectively cleaned and disinfected. No furniture with porous properties (cloth coverings, wood, etc.) should be present in visitation room.

1. Ezike, NO. Updated Interim Guidance for Nursing Homes and Other Long-Term Care Facilities and Programs: Phased Reopening., March 19, 2021, May 6, 2021, August 6, 2021.