COVID-19 RESPONSE AND PROCEDURES
May 19, 2021 UPDATE
The CDC has recently updated their COVID-19 protocols and made changes to mask mandates. As a healthcare facility, the CDC recommends we follow the guidelines in place for people who have not been fully vaccinated.
We serve many individuals who have not yet been vaccinated, or who are not able to be vaccinated – like children – and want to ensure that all of our staff and consumers remain safe and healthy, so we will continue to require all who enter our buildings to wear masks.
Other policies that remain in effect are as follows:
- Clients will receive a call the day prior to their appointment to screen for symptoms and give other directions regarding appointments.
- Clients who are unable or uncomfortable coming into the office will be offered telehealth services.
- We are asking that each person bring no more than one person with them for appointments, and visitors not participating in the session are encouraged to wait outside if the waiting rooms are busy.
- Staff will adhere to the social distancing protocol of six or more feet.
Our senior leadership team will continue to monitor the guidance issued by the CDC and other public health authorities and adjust our practices accordingly.
Thank you for respecting our policies and your willingness to look out for the safety of our staff and people we serve!
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Per Governor Wolf’s directive issued on March 19, 2020 behavioral health and substance abuse services are considered essential and life-sustaining, and as such, providers are expected to continue offering support to the residents of the Commonwealth.
TrueNorth Wellness Services is a licensed behavioral health and substance abuse services provider, serving individuals in offices throughout South Central Pennsylvania and we will continue to serve our clients until further directed.
Here is how we will be moving forward with client appointments for Outpatient Therapy, Psychiatric, and Substance Use services…
- Signs have been posted to remind clients and staff of social distancing
- Clients will receive a call the day prior to their appointment to screen for symptoms and give other directions regarding appointments.
- We are limiting the number of people in the waiting rooms to ensure adequate space for social distancing.
- Clients may bring no more than one person with them to their appointment.
- Anyone attending an appointment with the client may be asked to wait outside/in their car until the client is finished receiving services.
- If clients are more than a couple minutes early to their appointment, they may be asked to wait outside/in their car until their appointment time.
- No children are permitted in the building unless they are the one receiving services.
- Staff will adhere to the social distancing protocol of six or more feet.
- High touch surfaces will be cleaned after each client and staff will wash hands between clients and after cleaning spaces.
- Clients who are unable or uncomfortable coming into the office will be offered telehealth services.
With the closing of schools, our Amazing Kids Club Autism Resource Centers have closed as well. All mobile and community based services for children, families, and adults are now being offered remotely. And, our Partial Hospitalization and Social Rehabilitation programs will also only be providing services via telehealth.
We appreciate that there may be concern for our staff as we move forward. Please know we are taking all precautions necessary to keep everyone safe and healthy. Additionally, we have implemented a temporary hiring freeze and staff from closed programs have been reassigned to other programs in need of extra staff during this time.
These are unprecedented days and things have been changing minute-by-minute, it seems. Our Senior Leaders are working tirelessly to ensure services are provided with as much normalcy as possible and staff have the time and resources they need to fulfill their role with uncompromised safety.