May 2020

It is with great comfort that I inform you that Willow Springs Center is considered by the NV Health Department as a “COVID-19 recovered facility.” We have been successfully treating our current patients, during the virus outbreak, as their mental health needs were paramount. We felt fortunate that no patient exhibited severe symptoms, nor did any patient need medical/surgical hospitalization, which allowed for their psychiatric treatment to continue.

We have begun admitting new patients on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. We have implemented all applicable safety measures advised by the CDC and NV Health Department, and will continue for as long as needed. The safety, health and wellbeing of our patients and staff are of the utmost importance to us. We celebrate our Healthcare Heroes for their dedication and commitment to our patients and their treatment.

We also thank all mental health workers in the communities we serve for their support and patience during this time. We hope you stay well and we look forward to serving you and caring for patients. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us.

Important Coronavirus Update

Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19, is a new respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.  The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. If you develop a fever or cough or have difficulty breathing, or have had close contact with someone who has had a presumptive positive or confirmed positive COVID-19 test result, please seek medical attention by calling your provider’s office. For more information regarding the coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

As leaders in mental healthcare, we are making every effort to avoid inciting unnecessary panic or anxiety among our clients and families, and we are taking every measure to protect them – along with our employees – during this dynamic situation. We are closely monitoring information provided by key government, regulatory and local entities. In the interest of protecting the health and safety of our patients, staff and our community, the following have been implemented.

Facility Services and Programs

• Our facility is fully operational. We are monitoring for symptoms in patients and staff. We are taking proactive steps to keep our patients and team members safe while serving the needs of our community. We are actively monitoring and responding to all recommendations made by the CDC and our local regulatory and health authorities.
• Community education programs may be cancelled/postponed; please see event details and follow us on Facebook for updates.
• We have implemented additional training for all employees on handwashing and hand sanitization, and strict employee and client compliance with washing/sanitizing hands thoroughly and often.
• We have increased the frequency of the required cleaning and sanitization of our facility, including intake rooms, surfaces and common areas.

We are Accepting Donations!

Our staff of healthcare providers is currently equipped to keep patients and our workers safe. However, it is expected that over the next few weeks, we will experience a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). If you are interested in providing items (donated or hand-made) to our Facility, kindly follow the user-friendly instructions here. We thank you for your generosity and your time.

• How to make a Hand-Sewn Gown- Click here to download
• How to make a Face Shield- Click here to download
• Community Face Mask Instructions – Click here to download
• Community Face Mask Instructions Video (11 min) – Click here to watch
  Provided by Providence St. Joseph Health

Limited Visitation — New Temporary Policy

The following is in effect until further notice:

• All in-person visitation has been suspended (with limited critical exceptions). We strongly encourage the use of electronic methods to stay connected with loved ones including telemedicine, zoom, and extended phone time.

ONLINE VISITATIONS

• Online visitations by appointment every weekday from 12pm-6pm and weekends 1pm-3pm.
• Online visits will be 20 minutes. At this time, families can schedule one visit per week depending on demand. If there are open times or cancellations, we will work off of a wait list to accommodate additional visits.
• Schedule an appointment by emailing [email protected] with 3 dates and times that work from the time frame provided at least 24 hours in advance. You will be emailed back a confirmation of appointment.

PHONE CALLS

• Phone calls will take place between 3:30pm-8:30pm to accommodate additional phone calls.
• Phone calls will increase by 1 per patient dependent on their program level. If your child has unsupervised phone calls these will occur on the unit.
• If your child has supervised phone calls, they will be scheduled through [email protected] with 3 dates and times that work from the time frame provided at least 24 hours in advance. You will be emailed back a confirmation of appointment.

FAMILY THERAPY

• Family therapy will be scheduled through your child’s therapist and can be done via telephone or video conferencing.
• Talking to Children about COVID-19 –Learn More

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility during this time!

Prevention

The CDC recommends individuals and families follow everyday preventive measures:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after using the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60–95% alcohol.
• Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
• Stay home when you are sick with respiratory disease symptoms.

Thank you for your cooperation and for being an advocate for the health of your loved ones and all patients in our care.