COVID-19 Response

GrandCare has taken steps to prepare for the outbreak of COVID-19 disease, which is caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-cov-2. We have prepared for epidemics, so we were ready when this outbreak occurred. Our Infection Control Committee was ready to create and implement new policies and precautions to keep our patients, staff and our community safe.

GrandCare’s response is intended to allow us to continue our mission of caring for patients during this outbreak. We are monitoring recommendations and protocols outlined by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and working to keep our policies up to date. We are providing ongoing training to our clinicians and caregivers as new information becomes available on screening criteria, standard precautions, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and general updates from our Infection Control Committee.

Training includes information and guidance from the CDC and other credible sources to help ensure that our clinicians, caregivers, patients and the community have the knowledge they need to protect the health and well-being of our patients and team. Our clinicians, caregivers and patients are educated to recognize the most common symptoms of COVID-19 as outlined by the CDC and instructed on performing symptom self-assessments prior to each visit. Clinicians are equipped with PPE including masks, gloves and, if appropriate, face shields. Our intention is for our staff to maintain supply of PPE recommended by the CDC, subject of course to availability given the national shortage. Our clinicians perform proper hand hygiene utilizing alcohol-based hand sanitizer or washing with soap and water for 20 seconds. They also clean surfaces and equipment with approved disinfectants before and after each use.

We have updated our infection control policy to clarify that clinicians who suspect exposure to COVID-positive patients must self-quarantine for 14 days or until we determine with lab testing that exposure did not occur. We have taken extensive, deliberate steps to safeguard the health of our patients, teammates, our families and our community as we seek to be a part of the solution to this outbreak.

When caregivers and care partners visit patients, you can expect that they are trained to:

1. Perform a mandatory symptom self-assessment immediately prior to each visit;
2. Use appropriate infection control procedures and precautions prior to each visit; and
3. Regularly screen and educate you to ensure obvious symptoms are detected and acted upon immediately.

If you have any questions, concerns or general inquiries please reach out to our Infection Control Committee at (818) 244-8446.