COVID

COVID RESPONSE

Annandale Behavioral Health is located in the beautiful hillsides along the Arroyo Seco neighborhood of Pasadena, California and situated on a ½ acre lot. Our large property allows naturally for easy social distancing. The safety of clients and staff is of paramount importance and for that reason we go above and beyond CDC guidelines to mitigate as many risks as possible.

Outline of Response:

1. Hand Hygiene – staff wash hands throughout the day, at least once per hour.
2. Disinfecting common areas at every 4 hours
3. All staff wear face coverings while on property
4. Clients are prescreened for risk and level of exposure, once cleared by our physicians for admission they are isolated with designated staff in a private 2-story cottage with a full kitchen and bathroom. A staff registered nurse will administer a PCR diagnostic test as well as an antibody test and once cleared (within 48 hours of admission) clients can then join the rest of the residents on the main property. Testing can be repeated as necessary.
5. HEPA filter air purifiers are strategically placed in all common areas throughout the properties.
6. Safe handling of food with single serving packaged snacks or freshly prepared foods/snacks for each client specifically (no food sharing).
7. Outside 12-step meetings are now conducted virtually.
8. Skilled RN’s and LVN’s assessing for symptoms daily.
9. Offsite outings are restricted activities that can safely allow for social distancing (hiking, horseback riding, golfing, drive-in films, etc???
10. Visitors are not prohibited but families are encouraged to use alternative means to connect, therefore clients are allowed to use tablets or computer for extended use on Sunday’s to visit with family or friends.
11. Groups are conducted both inside and outside, but clients remain socially distanced 6 ft apart.

Keeping our participants safe is our number one priority. We want to assure our community that we have been taking proper precautions to promote safety and reduce risk of infection here at Annandale Behavioral Health. 

The following Action Plan has been implemented in collaboration with our program staff, Medical staff and consultants.

New policies have been created that take the health and safety of our participants and staff into consideration with every possible safety measure in place to continue to offer excellent care. 

As a leading healthcare provider that offers all levels of dual diagnosis treatment and care, these are the following actions that have been taken:

Participant Safety:

• All participants are pre-screened prior to admission by our Admissions and Medical department and will undergo a COVID-19 test. (Unfortunately we do not admit any potential participant with a positive result. If your result is positive we will do everything we can to identify a facility that you can enter into). We do not admit any potential participant with a positive test result. We will provide referrals to facilities that can accommodate the client’s medical needs. 
• No more than six residents will reside at our facility at a time. 
• Masks and gloves are available to the participants to ensure their safety. 
• Increased and regular cleaning of all of our facilities, including having all the supplies on hand to prevent the spread of the virus. 
• Each community space will be wiped down, immediately after each group session.   
• Humidifiers will be used in common areas to filter the air quality. 
• Continuing existing hand washing initiatives throughout the day and more frequent cleaning of public areas including bathrooms, doorknobs, and light switches. 
• All participants have their temperature checked twice daily for stabilization and 4x’s a day for DETOX clients. 
• Restricting visitors, and any unnecessary people coming to the facility. 
• We have stocked up on food and water as a precaution to any future lock down requirements. 

Staff Interventions:

• All program staff will have a COVID-19 test and must test negative to work at our facility. 
• Program staff test results will be part of their personnel file. 
• Staff members are required to wear a mask at all times. Staff members are encouraged to take mask breaks often (outside and at least 6 ft apart from other staff). 
• Every staff’s temperature is checked and documented, before starting their shift. 
• We are ensuring that our employees have the information they need to practice all the necessary precautions for themselves, their families, and our participants. 
• We are in constant contact with our local health department to receive important community-specific updates 
• All plans are in place to use tele-medicine when necessary to do so and separate housing areas if need be. 
• All staff will use disposable silverware and dishware located in the cottage. Kitchen dishware and silverware will be for the client’s use only. 

As we know, substance use disorder does not take breaks and we have to be ready more than ever to serve those needing our help. We will continue to closely monitor the health and safety of our participants and staff as this situation continues to evolve. Our participants are in a medically supervised environment with a small population and we will continue to make sure they stay safe and well. 

For detailed information on COVID-19, please see:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

What you can do to protect yourself and your community. 

The CDC recommends daily preventative actions to help reduce the spread of respiratory diseases including:

• Avoid unnecessary handshakes, hugs and kisses.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick and stay away from others if you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touches objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

As information on the Coronavirus continues to evolve, we are examining our procedures closely and updating our procedures and policies as necessary. We will remain open and look forward to continuing to provide critical addiction treatment and resources to the millions of people suffering from the disease of addiction.