JourneyCare is wishes to do our part to ensure that the communities we serve are equipped with the best possible information. We are taking the highest precautions to ensure your safety, and are following up-to-date guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). This page contains helpful information regarding our response to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Information — A letter to our patients and families (Updated January 28, 2021)
Please click “read more” for helpful information about the vaccine rollout in your municipality and where to get updates about scheduling an appointment. Read more
The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is now available in Illinois. The first phase of vaccine availability – Phase 1A – focused on frontline healthcare workers, like your JourneyCare care team. Now, the state has advanced to Phase 1B, which offers vaccinations to people age 65 years and older as well as “frontline essential workers,” including first responders, education and childcare workers, grocery store employees, postal workers and more.
Many of our patients and their caregivers may now be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine under Phase 1B. If a JourneyCare patient has already received the vaccination, please be sure to alert your care team so we can update our records.
Below, JourneyCare offers details on how to contact your local county’s health department to learn about scheduling an appointment. Please remember that state officials have urged patience as the vaccine rollout continues, as appointment and distribution procedures vary by municipality.
Additionally, the State of Illinois offers a tool to locate vaccination sites near you at coronarvirus.illinois.gov (click “Vaccine locations” in the top left coroner). As always, thank you for entrusting us with your care.
Sincerely,
Myleene Bosch,
Vice President of Hospice
Also,
click here to read a blog article about the COVID-19 vaccine and what caregivers for those living with serious illness need to know.
Visiting one of our CareCenters?
Please click “read more” to see our CareCenter visitor restrictions. Read more
Visiting Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
• JourneyCare will notify visitors about risk factors for COVID-19.
• Up to three (3) visitors at a time are allowed for patients not diagnosed with COVID-19. One (1) visitor is allowed at a time for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
• There is no time limit for any visitor.
• Visitors must complete sign-in questionnaire prior to entry.
• Visitor must remain in patient’s room; common areas are closed. If needed, visitors must use the patient’s bathroom.
• Visitors must wear a face mask at all times. If instructed by staff, visitors must wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) based on patient isolation status. (See Visitor PPE Guidelines below.)
• Children younger than 18 and pets are discouraged from visiting to observe the highest infection control measures. Any children or pets must be accompanied by an adult.
Overnight Visitation
• No overnight visitors for COVID-19-positive/COVID-19 suspected patients, or for patients with airborne diseases.
• For patients who are not positive for COVID-19, one (1) visitor allowed overnight. Visitors must follow all the current visitor guidelines.
• Where a patient is receiving aerosol generating procedures, only family members/friends who reside in the same household may stay overnight.
• Visitors may be designated to stay overnight, as there will not be visitors rotating visits between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
• All overnight visitors must screened and cleared to stay overnight.
• At our Chicago facility, we will adhere to the City of Chicago Emergency Travel Order for out-of-state visitors.
Visitor PPE Guidelines
• All visitors must wear a mask at all times. If you do not have one, a re-usable mask will be provided.
• Visitors of patients on isolation: Staff will assist with providing required PPE and give instruction on how to correctly put it on and remove in accordance with infection control guidelines.
• Gloves and gowns are to be thrown away.
• Nonclinical mask (including fabric and dust masks) are to be kept by the visitor.
• Visitors are asked to launder them prior to returning and bring the mask with them for the next visit.
• Face shields should be returned to CareCenter staff at the end of the visit.
Hand Hygiene
Visitors must follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines:
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,
• or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer prior to seeing the patient, after removal of PPE, and prior to exiting the patient’s room.
JourneyCare screening protocols
JourneyCare will be monitoring all staff and patients on a daily basis for COVID-19 symptoms, as well as visitors to our CareCenters. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recommend screening for these symptoms:Read more
- Fever higher than 99.5 degrees
- New or worsening cough
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Chills with or without repeated shaking
- Muscle pain
- Unexplained headache
- New loss of taste or smell
Information from the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health
To learn more about guidelines being followed by JourneyCare, we encourage you to visit these resources that provide real-time updates on COVID-19 and useful information for all citizens on preventing the spread of infection. Read more
Additional resources for caregivers
Click “read more” for links to organizations with helpful information for caregivers. Read more
