Thank you again to all for your continued support on keeping everyone safe and doing your part not to spread the virus!!!
Be a part of the Maximum Care website!!
Contact Yenica if you have anything you would like to see in the website. Topics, suggestions, comments, all open, as long as is within our policies, procedures and to enhance education.
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TICKBORNE DISEASE IN PENNSYLVANIA
Now with summer approaching! Everyone being out in trails, state parks, camping, and even enjoying our patio, etc. I would like to bring to your attention the importance of keeping an eye on ticks!
The Pa Department of Health (PADOH) has identified recent sustained increases tick bite-related emergency department visits I nearly all regions of the state. This trend is expected, as tick exposures in the PA generally increase during spring and summer months and severe as an important reminder that tickborne diseases occur annually in Pa. In addition, due to the stay at home orders, residents may be spending more time outdoors. Seeking medical care for tickborne illness should not be delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From April through September, Health care providers should have heightened clinical suspicion for tickborne diseases.
PENNSYLVANIA TICK SURVEILLANCE DATA
Recent tick collections in 2019-2020 by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) documented the presence of Ixodes scapularis (known commonly as the blacklegged tick or deer tick) infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (the bacterium that causes Lyme disease) in all 67 Pa counties.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF TICKBORNE DISEASES IN PA
In PA, Lyme Disease (LD) is the most commonly reported tickborne disease and is usually seen during the months of May through September throughout the commonwealth. Pa ranked fourth nationally in LD incidence rate in 2018. All 67 counties in Pa reported LD.
Several other non-Lyme tickborne diseases are also reported annually in Pa, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and spotted fever rickettsiosis. Additionally, human cases of Powassan virus disease, a tickborne arbovirus, were documented. Results from the DEP tick studies conducted during 2019-2020 found additional evidence of Powassan in three more counties.
TICK BITE PREVENTION AND TICK REMOVAL
Individuals with exposure to wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter are at greatest risk of tick exposure. It is important to remind patients to reduce the likelihood of a tick bite by:
Walking in the center of trails and avoiding areas with high grass and leaf litter;
Using repellent that contains at least 20% DEET on exposed skin and use product that contain 0.5% permethrin on clothing;
Wearing light-colored clothing, which will make it easier to see crawling ticks;
Conducting full-body tick checks (including pets) after spending time in tick habitat; and
Bathing or showering within 2 hrs after coming indoors.
If an attached tick is found, it should be promptly removed using fine-tipped tweezers. The tick should be grasped as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pulled upward with steady even pressure. CDC’s directions for tick removal can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/removal/index.html.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF TICKBORNE DISEASES
The CDC has produced reference manual for health care providers that provides comprehensive information on tick identification, disease distribution, clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory testing, and treatment for the tickborne diseases that are endemic to North America. The manual is freely available at: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/TickborneDiseases.pdf.
SUMMARY
Tick bite-related emergency department visits have increased recently in PA.
Health care providers should have heightened clinical suspicion for tickborne disease in persons with clinically compatible symptoms.
Rare tickborne diseases, including B. miyamotoi and Pawassan virus, have been found in ticks in multiple Pa counties.
Providing healthcare and treating persons for tickborne illnesses should not be delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
For questions, please call 1-877-PA-Health (1-877-724-3258) or your local health department for more information.
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Activities:
Help us come up with creative things to do with our elderly! What do you do for your clients?
We would like the caregivers to take 20 min of their shift if possible, to do creative things with their clients. We are the first and maybe the last person our clients see in the day or even week. Loneliness is a big part of their lives. Let’s take some time to show them that we are not just personal care or home care but show them that they are not alone.
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STAFFING REMINDER:
We understand that as summer days, family activities, and holidays approach us, everyone would like to have their time off. All request time off must be put in writing.
Please follow the following steps to request time off:
Give us as much notice as possible.
Either request “The time off request form” or your letter for time off should include the following: Name of Cl, day of service and time.
Email or mail the requested time off. Take note that we must put everything in the new system, even if time passes, we need everything in writing.
If you go under more on the home page then click on open work tab, it will keep you posted on hours that are available at this time and the areas. Do not to call Staffing to enquire about the open work available.
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PAYROLL REMINDER:
EVV system must be used to make sure that there is no interruptions, delays, or problem with direct deposit. In the future your pay will not be able to be processed if you are not using the system.
If you are having any problems with the system call and report it to Yenica “Jen” Muniz.
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Compliance Reminder:
Make sure that your employment file is within compliance to continue employment with Maximum Care. Compliance is no longer waived with all the contracts. Example of things that must be up to date, all car information, CNA license, annual TB, annual physical. If any concerns or questions re: your file please contact Yenica “Jen” at 610-264-2353 or yenica@lvvn.com.
The Monitoring form must be done every shift.
If any questions please call Yenica “Jen” Muniz at 610-264-2353. The monitoring form is under the more tab and then the Covid-19 prevention & infectious control tab.
You can submit it to the office by either emailing yenica@lvvn.com or mailing them to the office.
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INCENTIVES:
Creative Based Incentive Contest:
1. Come up with a creative and fun activity to do with your client
2. Call, text or email Yenica with the activity (610-264-2353, 484-781-4603, or yenica@lvvn.com
3. The office staff will vote
4. Winner will receive a gift card
Refer a caregiver to Maximum Care Inc.:
You will receive $50 after 100 hrs worked. (At least within 2 months).
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The following dates are the conference call:
6/3, 6/5/2020 @ 2pm for all caregivers A thru L
6/17, 6/19/2020 @ 2pm for all caregivers M thru Z
Starting in July it will take place the 2nd week of every month:
7/15 @ 2pm A thru L, 7/17/2020 @ 2pm M thru Z
8/12 @ 2pm A thru L, 8/14/2020 @ 2pm M thru Z
9/16 @ 2pm A thru L, 9/18/2020 @ 2pm M thru Z
10/14 @ 2pm A thru L, 10/16/2020 @ 2pm M thru Z
11/11 @ 2pm A thru L, 11/13/2020 @ 2pm M thru Z
The phone number for the monthly teleconferences is 701-802-5077 with the access code of 6456087#.
We have done 1455 minutes of conference, 49 hosted meetings and 290 participants have joined us. We will continue to accompish and do more! Thank you for your coorperation.
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