OPENING SESSION: MORE THAN A VISITOR: IN-PERSON CARE PARTNERS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SAFETY
Due to the pandemic, strict visitor restrictions were put in place. While restrictions prevented infections, they caused safety concerns. Hear from experts ensuring access restrictions are approached from all perspectives. Spotlight: Hennepin Healthcare
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, strict visitor restrictions were put in place for infection prevention in hospitals, clinics, outpatient services, and congregate care settings. While restrictions did prevent additional infections, they also caused unintended safety concerns for patients and residents, as well as increased emotional and physical burdens on clinicians, patients, residents and their families. Conversations quickly turned into developing ways to safely reinstate essential presence of loved ones and family, balancing the real concerns of potential COVID-19 with safety, and quality of life and health challenges resulting from isolation. Hear from those who are working together to ensure safety relating to access restrictions is approached from all perspectives.
Participants will:
1. Learn why the presence of family and essential caregivers is critical to safety, even amid a pandemic
2. Differentiate between in-person care partners/essential caregivers from general visitors in order to preserve safety
3. Explore guidance from national and state organizations to safely develop programs that can reinstate in-person care partners/essential caregivers
4. Apply the practices learned to develop their own in-person care partner programs and policies that include the patient, resident, and family perspective
Local Spotlight: Hennepin Healthcare
Hennepin Healthcare leaders will share their journey and learnings related to COVID-19 access restrictions.