Part of TVH message received today 12/8
 

At The Villages Health, we care for almost 60,000 patients. As of December 4, we know of 356 cases with 75 hospitalizations and eight deaths. There are likely cases among our patients we have not heard about. We likely heard about nearly all our patients who were hospitalized or died. Our employees are also not immune. As of December 7, we have tested 73 team members with 22 being positive and 51 negative. All 22 team members are back at work having completed the necessary quarantine period. Most health care workers, whether at hospitals, nursing homes or our care centers have their exposures outside of work.

TVH has been running rapid testing with support from the State of Florida using Abbott Labs Binax tests supplied by the federal government. To date, TVH is approaching 4,000 tests run and overall positive rate is over 7%. Peak day testing has been about 13%. Another 5,000 test kits were recently received so testing will continue. There is no cost for testing, and you do not have to be a TVH patient to be tested. Testing is being offered at our Brownwood and Creekside Care Centers by online appointment. The website is The Villages Health Rapid COVID-19 Screening - Registration with availability on first come, first served basis.

As Florida moved into Phase 3 in September, there have been more people out and about with a higher likelihood of exposure. While there is scattered evidence of “pandemic fatigue,” maintaining vigilance is important. As cases have surged in multiple places around the state, country and world, locally case increases have also occurred. In many parts of the country, the increased risk of COVID infection led to restrictions on elective procedures being re-enacted; yet locally, that directive has not been given.

Communities where large populations of seniors live, are advised to take proactive steps to reduce the risk of disease transmission. The Villages® Community is the nation’s largest 55 and older active living community.

Seniors who have serious medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, or conditions reflective of weakened immunity, are at even higher risk. These individuals can make decisions that reduce their risk of getting COVID-19. They should consider postponing participation in large scale social events, particularly those events held indoors with multiple close contacts. Everyone can help reduce the risk of community spread until the magnitude and severity of this infection is more widely known and understood.


As we move into Phase 3 of reopening, the best way to continue progressing back to normal is maintain practices that reduce the likelihood of spread.

Everyone can help by taking the following actions:

People should not attend in-person events if they are sick
Social distancing of at least six feet is important
Consistent mask wearing is advised
Frequent handwashing, avoid shaking hands and minimize hand-to-face contact
Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing, then wash your hands

We were both tested this morning and thankfully both negative.

What is really scare is the people not taking proper precautions and than spreading it to medical providers.

No healthcare system will claim any employees have contracted virus in the facility. That would open up liability issues, plus comp cases

Since the beginning if you tested positive, you used all cto, pto, or vacation time, until you exhausted your bank.

After bank is gone you are then on a unpaid leave. Responsible for paying your own healthcare. While working that cost is around $300 to $500 per month. Unpaid leave your healthcare is $1200 to $2800 per month.

It's different where my wife works. She literally sneezed once at work and they administered a Covid test and sent her home. That was on the first day of her 4 day week. On the fourth day she got her results back and was cleared for work. She received "Pandemic Pay" for the days she missed. I'm not positive but I think the state is funding at least a portion of it. They've also gone to testing front line staff weekly. So far she's 0-4..

Staff that tests positive are also getting pandemic pay.

Good summary post. I am curious since almost 1/3 of the employees tested were positive what is the data on their wearing of masks while away from the job? The infection rate seems high if they were following your recommended guidelines.

A bit off topic, but I thought the first sentence was very interesting: “ At The Villages Health, we care for almost 60,000 patients.”

I assume that number includes both primary care and specialist patients. Anyone have a feel for how many of that 60,000 patients are in their primary care system?

She's lucky she got Pandemic pay. My health care facility mandates using your vacation time for the first 3 days and on the 4th day a separate sick bank kicks in.

Old news! Should have known this and been doing this for months!

All 22 team members are back at work having completed the necessary quarantine period.

So Villages Health directors are attesting that CV disappears completely from within the affected individuals within 14 days. And that the individuals are no longer infectious, particularly indoors where most, if not all, attend to patients.

Really?

Most health care workers, whether at hospitals, nursing homes or our care centers have their exposures outside of work.

Someone please interpret this for me.

I don't understand "have their exposures outside of work".

I hope people that are getting tested feel they have a reason to be tested beyond idle curiosity. We should not waste resources that may be needed by others. I have no plans to ever be tested unless I have strong reason to believe I have been exposed or have the virus.

Doesn't matter if the employees were wearing a mask, only those that were around them

Yes, really. The contagious period is self-limited

Exposure outside of work refers to their off duty time, not from patients in the office. How they determined this is another question.

Thank you GE. I "assumed" the same until I considered just how ridiculous this might be. Surely the sentence was penned by a PR hack, not a medical professional.

Most of the missive is gratuitous advertising.

Even though wearing a mask is more protective of your neighbor, it also offers a percentage of protection to the one wearing the mask.

Exposure after work hours ie- eating out, visiting friends, shopping in person.