Important Updates Regarding Covid-19
Current Progress Covid-19 Policies
Policy 5.17 A - Covid-19 Prevention and Response - PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES
Staff practices, monitoring of persons supported, and what to do in the event of exposure. This is an overview. For the full policy, see Policy 5.17 below.
Policy 5.17 - Covid-19 Prevention and Response - Full Policy
Policy 5.17A - Relaxed Staffing Procedural Guidelines
Policy 5.18 - Covid-19 Visitation Limitations
Updates
August 4, 2020
We hope this update finds you safe, healthy and settling into this new way of life. At Progress, things have largely remained the same over the course of the last couple of months. Although the people we support and staff have at times felt tired or overwhelmed by current limitations, by and large we have adjusted to this new way of operating. The following program changes are still in effect, and will continue to be until there is a major change in the state of the pandemic.
Activities in the Community
When the pandemic first began, community-based day activities in the community were eliminated. Trips in vehicles were permitted, but activities beyond that were prohibited. Now that we have a better understanding of safety procedures, activities outside of the home are permitted, but are limited to 2 hours a day. Crowds and indoor activities are prohibited. All activities must be preapproved in advance via the household calendar with Susan Hutchison or Ron Houston in the Day Program. We have found that these measures have helped bring more normalcy to the lives of persons supported, while maintaining safety.
Masks
Masks must be worn at all times, indoors and outdoors, when six feet of distance is not possible. This applies to staff and persons supported.
Visits with Friends and Family
Unfortunately, these continue to be off-limits. The preference is to avoid visits all together, as close contact with people outside of the household has shown to be a risk for contracting the virus. While there have been some exceptions, any visit must be pre-approved with managers in advance. While not visiting with friends and family is extremely difficult, we thank you for your commitment to helping to keep this population safe.
Temperature Checks
We continue temperature monitoring of both staff and persons supported. Staff must take their temperatures at the start of each shift, and record the number on a specific form in each home. Staff must immediately report temperatures over 100.4 to their manager. Persons supported continue to have their temperatures taken at 8AM and 8PM, and these numbers are recorded in TIMAS, which is our notes and records software system. In the event of a temperature over 100.4 or signs of respiratory infection (for both staff and persons supported), the information is immediately reported to managers, who then follow policy guidelines specific to each situation. The full policy can be found on our website at www.Progress-Inc.org.
Testing
If staff are aware that a person supported has been exposed to the community in an unsafe way, or a person supported has been exposed to someone with a confirmed Covid-19 diagnosis or undiagnosed respiratory illness, then the person supported is required to get a Covid-19 test. Staff must contact Susan Hutchison, who is the point of contact at Progress for testing. She will assist in directing where to go, how to schedule, etc. We feel strongly that having one point of contact for testing will help streamline the process and keep communication channels clear.
Staff Exposure
If a staff person is exposed to someone with a positive Covid-19 diagnosis or someone with an undiagnosed respiratory illness, detailed procedures are in place to mitigate any risks to persons supported or other staff.
Please note that the above guidelines are the main takeaway points from our detailed policies regarding Covid-19 practices. For full policies, please visit our website at www.Progress-Inc.org.
Thank you for continuing to exercise patience and understanding as we navigate these times. Our priority is to keep persons supported and staff safe. We anticipate these altered practices will be in place through 2020, barring any major developments or changing status in the state of the pandemic. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either myself, Eric Metzler or Susan Hutchison. Thank you for your continued support and understanding, together we will get through this.
Regards,
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
March 16, 2020
Progress has been monitoring the developments of Covid-19 and our priority at this time is keeping the people we support and their staff safe. We are implementing program changes across all aspects of Progress, in an effort to reduce exposure and maximize social distancing. We are following recommendations laid out by the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and TennCare, and have made additional program changes in an effort to ensure safety.
Day Program - Starting tomorrow, we will be picking up and dropping off the people we support at home, and will no longer use the day building as a meeting space for pick up/drop off. The only exception will be people who use Access Ride. Those individuals will arrive at the day building on campus, and a parking lot exchange will occur.
The elimination of day program pick up/drop off is to prevent close contact at the day center, where social distancing is extremely difficult. All indoor activities where people congregate have also been suspended. As people supported are out in the community for the day, they will no longer be going to populated areas like malls or libraries. Rather than visit these areas, staff will be implementing alternate activities, like driving by monuments or historical locations and holding discussions in the car with people supported, or outdoor activities such as walking trails, parks, the lake, etc.
Additionally, day program staff have been assigned to support the same group of people on a daily basis, in an effort to minimize direct contact with multiple people. Prior to the Covid-19 developments, day program staff would often rotate among various groups of individuals taking them into the community. This has been changed for the foreseeable future.
Residential – Efforts will be made to reduce the number of trips taken into the community. We typically encourage staff to take folks supported into the community in the evenings and weekends if there are activities they’d like to participate in, but have recommended people stay home as much as possible.
Hand washing reminders will be placed in every home with clear instructions on proper technique and frequency throughout the day, as well as reminders to wash hands once back from being out in the community. We are asking staff to not only remind people supported to wash their hands properly, but also assist and ensure they are doing it properly.
Staff are being encouraged to purchase a few extra non-perishable items from the grocery store for households. We do not want people panic buying, but are recommending keeping some extra canned goods and frozen foods on hand.
For all staff and people we support – We’ve recommended people avoid shaking hands and practice “elbow bumping” instead, cough or sneeze into an elbow or tissue, and practice consistent hand washing and sanitizing. We’ve also recommended that staff based in homes should limit their trips to the Progress office no more than once a week if necessary. We’ve asked staff exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19 to let their supervisor know so that staffing arrangements can be made. We are asking them to contact a medical professional and request testing, and they will not be allowed to return to work without a doctor’s note.
Campus / Administrative staff - Progress has begun increased disinfecting of high touch surfaces on campus like doorknobs, and will conduct deep cleaning in common areas. Several departments are making an effort to reduce the amount of staff in-office by having staff work from home on alternating days as much as possible. Staff gathering and events have been temporarily suspended.
Through all of these measures we are hopeful to increase social distancing and ensure the safety of the people we support and their staff. We will continue to monitor developments and seek guidance from the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and TennCare. Like most, we are not certain at this time how long these measures will need to be enacted, but they will be in place for the foreseeable future.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 615-399-3000 or email info@Progress-Inc.org.
Regards,
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
Policy 5.17 A - Covid-19 Prevention and Response - PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES
Staff practices, monitoring of persons supported, and what to do in the event of exposure. This is an overview. For the full policy, see Policy 5.17 below.
Policy 5.17 - Covid-19 Prevention and Response - Full Policy
Policy 5.17A - Relaxed Staffing Procedural Guidelines
Policy 5.18 - Covid-19 Visitation Limitations
Updates
August 4, 2020
We hope this update finds you safe, healthy and settling into this new way of life. At Progress, things have largely remained the same over the course of the last couple of months. Although the people we support and staff have at times felt tired or overwhelmed by current limitations, by and large we have adjusted to this new way of operating. The following program changes are still in effect, and will continue to be until there is a major change in the state of the pandemic.
Activities in the Community
When the pandemic first began, community-based day activities in the community were eliminated. Trips in vehicles were permitted, but activities beyond that were prohibited. Now that we have a better understanding of safety procedures, activities outside of the home are permitted, but are limited to 2 hours a day. Crowds and indoor activities are prohibited. All activities must be preapproved in advance via the household calendar with Susan Hutchison or Ron Houston in the Day Program. We have found that these measures have helped bring more normalcy to the lives of persons supported, while maintaining safety.
Masks
Masks must be worn at all times, indoors and outdoors, when six feet of distance is not possible. This applies to staff and persons supported.
Visits with Friends and Family
Unfortunately, these continue to be off-limits. The preference is to avoid visits all together, as close contact with people outside of the household has shown to be a risk for contracting the virus. While there have been some exceptions, any visit must be pre-approved with managers in advance. While not visiting with friends and family is extremely difficult, we thank you for your commitment to helping to keep this population safe.
Temperature Checks
We continue temperature monitoring of both staff and persons supported. Staff must take their temperatures at the start of each shift, and record the number on a specific form in each home. Staff must immediately report temperatures over 100.4 to their manager. Persons supported continue to have their temperatures taken at 8AM and 8PM, and these numbers are recorded in TIMAS, which is our notes and records software system. In the event of a temperature over 100.4 or signs of respiratory infection (for both staff and persons supported), the information is immediately reported to managers, who then follow policy guidelines specific to each situation. The full policy can be found on our website at www.Progress-Inc.org.
Testing
If staff are aware that a person supported has been exposed to the community in an unsafe way, or a person supported has been exposed to someone with a confirmed Covid-19 diagnosis or undiagnosed respiratory illness, then the person supported is required to get a Covid-19 test. Staff must contact Susan Hutchison, who is the point of contact at Progress for testing. She will assist in directing where to go, how to schedule, etc. We feel strongly that having one point of contact for testing will help streamline the process and keep communication channels clear.
Staff Exposure
If a staff person is exposed to someone with a positive Covid-19 diagnosis or someone with an undiagnosed respiratory illness, detailed procedures are in place to mitigate any risks to persons supported or other staff.
Please note that the above guidelines are the main takeaway points from our detailed policies regarding Covid-19 practices. For full policies, please visit our website at www.Progress-Inc.org.
Thank you for continuing to exercise patience and understanding as we navigate these times. Our priority is to keep persons supported and staff safe. We anticipate these altered practices will be in place through 2020, barring any major developments or changing status in the state of the pandemic. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either myself, Eric Metzler or Susan Hutchison. Thank you for your continued support and understanding, together we will get through this.
Regards,
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
March 16, 2020
Progress has been monitoring the developments of Covid-19 and our priority at this time is keeping the people we support and their staff safe. We are implementing program changes across all aspects of Progress, in an effort to reduce exposure and maximize social distancing. We are following recommendations laid out by the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and TennCare, and have made additional program changes in an effort to ensure safety.
Day Program - Starting tomorrow, we will be picking up and dropping off the people we support at home, and will no longer use the day building as a meeting space for pick up/drop off. The only exception will be people who use Access Ride. Those individuals will arrive at the day building on campus, and a parking lot exchange will occur.
The elimination of day program pick up/drop off is to prevent close contact at the day center, where social distancing is extremely difficult. All indoor activities where people congregate have also been suspended. As people supported are out in the community for the day, they will no longer be going to populated areas like malls or libraries. Rather than visit these areas, staff will be implementing alternate activities, like driving by monuments or historical locations and holding discussions in the car with people supported, or outdoor activities such as walking trails, parks, the lake, etc.
Additionally, day program staff have been assigned to support the same group of people on a daily basis, in an effort to minimize direct contact with multiple people. Prior to the Covid-19 developments, day program staff would often rotate among various groups of individuals taking them into the community. This has been changed for the foreseeable future.
Residential – Efforts will be made to reduce the number of trips taken into the community. We typically encourage staff to take folks supported into the community in the evenings and weekends if there are activities they’d like to participate in, but have recommended people stay home as much as possible.
Hand washing reminders will be placed in every home with clear instructions on proper technique and frequency throughout the day, as well as reminders to wash hands once back from being out in the community. We are asking staff to not only remind people supported to wash their hands properly, but also assist and ensure they are doing it properly.
Staff are being encouraged to purchase a few extra non-perishable items from the grocery store for households. We do not want people panic buying, but are recommending keeping some extra canned goods and frozen foods on hand.
For all staff and people we support – We’ve recommended people avoid shaking hands and practice “elbow bumping” instead, cough or sneeze into an elbow or tissue, and practice consistent hand washing and sanitizing. We’ve also recommended that staff based in homes should limit their trips to the Progress office no more than once a week if necessary. We’ve asked staff exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19 to let their supervisor know so that staffing arrangements can be made. We are asking them to contact a medical professional and request testing, and they will not be allowed to return to work without a doctor’s note.
Campus / Administrative staff - Progress has begun increased disinfecting of high touch surfaces on campus like doorknobs, and will conduct deep cleaning in common areas. Several departments are making an effort to reduce the amount of staff in-office by having staff work from home on alternating days as much as possible. Staff gathering and events have been temporarily suspended.
Through all of these measures we are hopeful to increase social distancing and ensure the safety of the people we support and their staff. We will continue to monitor developments and seek guidance from the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and TennCare. Like most, we are not certain at this time how long these measures will need to be enacted, but they will be in place for the foreseeable future.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 615-399-3000 or email info@Progress-Inc.org.
Regards,
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
March 20, 2020
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate new policies and operational practices in response to Covid-19. We will continue to send updates as new insights are reached in order to keep people supported and staff safe. As the situation continues to unfold, we have several additional points of consideration for all.
Visiting loved ones – Unfortunately at this time, we are discouraging visits with friends and family. If you typically visit with a person supported and have not already received a call from either Susan Hutchison, Co-Director of Day Programs, or Eric Metzler, Co-Director of Residential Programs, please give them a call. This applies to both friends and family visiting the home of the person supported, as well as the person supported venturing out of the home to visit friends or family. While we realize these measures may not be ideal, they are incredibly important in our effort to minimize exposure. If everyone can follow these recommendations, it is one more opportunity to reduce unnecessary risk for the time being.
Guidance from officials – We continue to be in communication with DIDD, TennCare and the Mayor’s Response Team regarding best practices for all aspects of managing and minimizing exposure for people with disabilities. We will continue to update you regarding new or updated recommendations from them.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – We have been working with DIDD, TennCare and the Mayor’s Office to acquire PPE for homes that may need it. Although the greatest demand for PPE is for health care workers, many provider agencies do not have adequate PPE supplies should the virus reach residential homes. This includes face masks and surgical gloves.
Hand sanitizer – Due to extreme shortages, we do not currently have an adequate supply of hand sanitizer for all Progress vehicles, as well as some homes. We are searching high and low for hand sanitizer at multiple locations, but if you have any extra that can be shared with us, please let us know.
Procedures for a confirmed Covid-19 case – in the event we do have a case of Covid-19, we are putting procedures in place to protect all involved. These procedures are guided by best practices recommended by DIDD, Tenncare and the Mayor’s Response Team. If you have any questions about these specific procedures, please contact us.
Thank you for your ongoing cooperation. We will continue to update you regularly, and please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate new policies and operational practices in response to Covid-19. We will continue to send updates as new insights are reached in order to keep people supported and staff safe. As the situation continues to unfold, we have several additional points of consideration for all.
Visiting loved ones – Unfortunately at this time, we are discouraging visits with friends and family. If you typically visit with a person supported and have not already received a call from either Susan Hutchison, Co-Director of Day Programs, or Eric Metzler, Co-Director of Residential Programs, please give them a call. This applies to both friends and family visiting the home of the person supported, as well as the person supported venturing out of the home to visit friends or family. While we realize these measures may not be ideal, they are incredibly important in our effort to minimize exposure. If everyone can follow these recommendations, it is one more opportunity to reduce unnecessary risk for the time being.
Guidance from officials – We continue to be in communication with DIDD, TennCare and the Mayor’s Response Team regarding best practices for all aspects of managing and minimizing exposure for people with disabilities. We will continue to update you regarding new or updated recommendations from them.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – We have been working with DIDD, TennCare and the Mayor’s Office to acquire PPE for homes that may need it. Although the greatest demand for PPE is for health care workers, many provider agencies do not have adequate PPE supplies should the virus reach residential homes. This includes face masks and surgical gloves.
Hand sanitizer – Due to extreme shortages, we do not currently have an adequate supply of hand sanitizer for all Progress vehicles, as well as some homes. We are searching high and low for hand sanitizer at multiple locations, but if you have any extra that can be shared with us, please let us know.
Procedures for a confirmed Covid-19 case – in the event we do have a case of Covid-19, we are putting procedures in place to protect all involved. These procedures are guided by best practices recommended by DIDD, Tenncare and the Mayor’s Response Team. If you have any questions about these specific procedures, please contact us.
Thank you for your ongoing cooperation. We will continue to update you regularly, and please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
March 22, 2020
In an effort to keep you up-to-date with our continuing response to COVID-19, we wanted to inform you that beginning today, we are supporting all people from home. Given the Mayor's Stay-at-Home order, our Day Program staff are reporting directly to the homes and will be supporting people from the homes rather than in the community. Our priority remains to keep people safe and healthy and we will continue to update you as we adapt to changing conditions in our community. During this time we think communication is among the most important things. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
March 30, 2020
Dear Family Members and Conservators,
As we all adjust to this new way of life, please know staff and folks supported continue to make the best of these unexpected changes to daily living. Although we now support people in the home and are no longer venturing into the community, there has been no shortage of creative and positive experiences to go around. Just last week Jeff, Lisa and Robert visited a field of donkeys in their neighborhood and fed them a surprise treat of crackers. Travis and Ryan enjoyed lunch in a local park. Employment programs conducted interviews over the virtual platform Zoom to continue to offer vital services like job searching and interview practice. Job Coach Kim has gone above and beyond in keeping the Day Program connected at all levels, as community-based services have temporarily become home-based services.
As we continue to make the best of the situation and stay the course through new ways of operating, we ask that you do the same. We understand that these new Progress protocols are not always ideal, such as avoiding visits with folks supported, but they are incredibly important for everyone to follow in order to keep our population safe. Management is always here to discuss any and all concerns you may have, and we will continue to have an open dialogue with you about what we have been advised are safest practices to adhere to throughout this process.
With new information coming to our attention regularly, and constantly changing news reports, we will continue to keep you updated on our current procedures. For now, changes to our programming will continue through the end of April. Procedures will be revisited as time goes on and more information develops.
We’re all in this together. But - we need you to do your part. If you want to visit a supported living home or if you want your family member to visit your home, please discuss this with the program manager or Eric Metzler. When folks supported leave their home or yours and interact with friends and family in the community, they are experiencing an unnecessary level of risk, which is then brought back to their roommates and staff. So many of the people supported through Progress are medically fragile, and exposing anyone unnecessarily is simply unacceptable. It is critically important that we follow all of these new guidelines to keep people safe.
As always, thank you for your cooperation. Please contact us should you have questions. With your help we will continue to navigate these difficult times, and though challenging, will be sure to share positive experiences with you along the way.
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
April 7, 2020
Dear Family Members and Conservators,
As Covid-19 developments continue to unfold, our program changes remain in effect. We’d simply like to take this time to reiterate that no family visitation will occur until the Safer at Home order is lifted. It is the main way that we as an agency are able to keep people supported and staff safe.
We have finalized three new policies to maintain the health and safety of people supported and staff, listed below. These new policies outline the procedures that will be enacted should an individual or staff have suspected or confirmed Covid-19 illness, Staffing Guidelines, and the Visitation Limitations already underway. These policies were developed by the Progress leadership team, incorporating guidance issued by the TN Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and TennCare.
Policy 5.17 - Covid-19 Response
Policy 5.17A - Relaxed Staffing Procedural Guidelines
Policy 5.18 - Covid-19 Visitation Limitations
Thank you for your continued cooperation during this time. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact either myself, Eric Metzler, Susan Hutchison or Program Managers.
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
In an effort to keep you up-to-date with our continuing response to COVID-19, we wanted to inform you that beginning today, we are supporting all people from home. Given the Mayor's Stay-at-Home order, our Day Program staff are reporting directly to the homes and will be supporting people from the homes rather than in the community. Our priority remains to keep people safe and healthy and we will continue to update you as we adapt to changing conditions in our community. During this time we think communication is among the most important things. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
March 30, 2020
Dear Family Members and Conservators,
As we all adjust to this new way of life, please know staff and folks supported continue to make the best of these unexpected changes to daily living. Although we now support people in the home and are no longer venturing into the community, there has been no shortage of creative and positive experiences to go around. Just last week Jeff, Lisa and Robert visited a field of donkeys in their neighborhood and fed them a surprise treat of crackers. Travis and Ryan enjoyed lunch in a local park. Employment programs conducted interviews over the virtual platform Zoom to continue to offer vital services like job searching and interview practice. Job Coach Kim has gone above and beyond in keeping the Day Program connected at all levels, as community-based services have temporarily become home-based services.
As we continue to make the best of the situation and stay the course through new ways of operating, we ask that you do the same. We understand that these new Progress protocols are not always ideal, such as avoiding visits with folks supported, but they are incredibly important for everyone to follow in order to keep our population safe. Management is always here to discuss any and all concerns you may have, and we will continue to have an open dialogue with you about what we have been advised are safest practices to adhere to throughout this process.
With new information coming to our attention regularly, and constantly changing news reports, we will continue to keep you updated on our current procedures. For now, changes to our programming will continue through the end of April. Procedures will be revisited as time goes on and more information develops.
We’re all in this together. But - we need you to do your part. If you want to visit a supported living home or if you want your family member to visit your home, please discuss this with the program manager or Eric Metzler. When folks supported leave their home or yours and interact with friends and family in the community, they are experiencing an unnecessary level of risk, which is then brought back to their roommates and staff. So many of the people supported through Progress are medically fragile, and exposing anyone unnecessarily is simply unacceptable. It is critically important that we follow all of these new guidelines to keep people safe.
As always, thank you for your cooperation. Please contact us should you have questions. With your help we will continue to navigate these difficult times, and though challenging, will be sure to share positive experiences with you along the way.
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
April 7, 2020
Dear Family Members and Conservators,
As Covid-19 developments continue to unfold, our program changes remain in effect. We’d simply like to take this time to reiterate that no family visitation will occur until the Safer at Home order is lifted. It is the main way that we as an agency are able to keep people supported and staff safe.
We have finalized three new policies to maintain the health and safety of people supported and staff, listed below. These new policies outline the procedures that will be enacted should an individual or staff have suspected or confirmed Covid-19 illness, Staffing Guidelines, and the Visitation Limitations already underway. These policies were developed by the Progress leadership team, incorporating guidance issued by the TN Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and TennCare.
Policy 5.17 - Covid-19 Response
Policy 5.17A - Relaxed Staffing Procedural Guidelines
Policy 5.18 - Covid-19 Visitation Limitations
Thank you for your continued cooperation during this time. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact either myself, Eric Metzler, Susan Hutchison or Program Managers.
Donna Goodaker
Executive Director
