This interim guidance is based on what we currently know about the COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be providing updates as information becomes available. CDC is working with the Department of Health and Human Services and across the United States in the public health sectors to develop a health response for each state.

For more information, please visit these websites:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019


Background

CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in 60 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2,” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.

What May Happen

More cases of COVID-19 are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States. It’s also likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur, including in communities in the United States. It’s likely that at some point, widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the United States will occur.

Widespread transmission of COVID-19 would translate into large numbers of people needing medical care at the same time. Schools, childcare centers, workplaces, and other places for mass gatherings may experience more absenteeism. Public health and healthcare systems may become overloaded, with elevated rates of hospitalizations and deaths. Other critical infrastructure, such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and the transportation industry may also be affected. Health care providers and hospitals may be overwhelmed. At this time, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it. Nonpharmaceutical interventions would be the most important response strategy.

CDC Response

Global efforts at this time are focused concurrently on containing the spread and mitigating the impact of this virus. The federal government is working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. The public health response is multi-layered, with the goal of detecting and minimizing introductions of this virus in the United States. CDC is operationalizing all of its pandemic preparedness and response plans, working on multiple fronts to meet these goals, including specific measures to prepare communities to respond to local transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. There is an abundance of pandemic guidance developed in anticipation of an influenza pandemic that is being repurposed and adapted for a COVID-19 pandemic.

WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A COMPANY?

• Staying informed about the local COVID-19 situation: We will be reviewing the information from the CDC and state health departments on a daily basis.
• Reviewing our emergency response plan: We are actively reviewing our emergency response plans and will continue to do this in all of our offices to ensure we are prepared based on the possible complications the virus could bring and to ensure we have prepared our patients in the community.
• Communication about the COVID-19 with staff: As we review information coming in from local, state, and federal departments, we will share the information and our proactive actions with our staff.
• Communication about the COVID-19 with patients: We will provide education and information to share with our patients. We ensure our local staff are able to answer and field questions or concerns with patients and the community. We will use our facility’s website and social media pages to share updates as needed.
• Protecting our workforce: We are conducting inventory on available PPE supplies and ensuring education on proper PPE use. We are developing screening tools to be used with patients and visitors before and during visits with patients in their homes. We are encouraging sick employees to stay home and out of contact with patients and personnel.
• Protecting our patients: Staying up to date on the best ways to manage patients with the COVID-19. Using multiple communication platforms to deliver information and offer more ways patients can seek and obtain medical advice.

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARTER HEALTHCARE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT AT (405) 947-7700, EXT. 1351 or email the Compliance Department @ [email protected].