COVID outbreak at Red Oak Rehab
Red Oak Rehab and Care Center is currently experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 among facility residents and employees. The Red Oak team has been preparing for the eventuality of potential outbreaks due to exploding community spread, which is happening, unstoppably, around the world. Having that moment become a reality is very difficult for those who have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to prevent it since we locked everything down in March.
Montgomery County has been teetering between the Red and Yellow Zones regarding test positivity for months. That status means nursing homes are required to test staff, contractors and vendors multiple time per week – once while in the Yellow Zone and twice while in Red. As soon as Red Oak Rehab and Care Center learned of the potential outbreak, they began resident testing as well so they could get ahead of the outbreak, even though it is not a requirement in Iowa.
The facility also immediately implemented a COVID unit for residents who become positive and have asked the residents who are negative on testing to quarantine, wear masks and sanitize their hands regularly. Caregivers have replaced procedure masks with N-95 masks and gowns in addition to the face shields and gloves Iowa has required during the Pandemic. A Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization System has been installed in the air handling system to dismantle the virus. Electrostatic disinfection has been implemented to enhance the increased cleaning and sanitation of the facility.
Leadership of the building is in close communication with local and state health officials to ensure all the appropriate measures are taken under current circumstances. We are also following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19.
We appreciate the local physicians and medical community who are diligently working with the building to help meet the residents’ needs. We have been updating local hospital officials in case we have the need for inpatient care. Additionally, the facility is working closely with the Montgomery County Health Department and the Iowa Department of Public Health, Licensure and Survey and Certification.
General updates about increases or decreases in positivity of COVID-19 can be found on our website: www.redoakcc.com
Family members can interact with their loved ones by using video chat, calling, texting or checking in on social media. Our teams have worked very hard and now are working harder to get the residents through this as safely as possible. We pray this is not the new normal and we can get our residents visiting and hugging their loved ones soon.
Due to federal privacy laws, Red Oak Care Center will not share any specific information about the medical status of our residents or employees. We would appreciate your prayers for their recovery.
Red Oak Care Center is honored to serve the Red Oak area. Our facility teams will keep working hard to mitigate spread and protect the residents as best we can. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our employees and all of their hard work protecting our residents during the pandemic.