Narins Eating Disorder Center
November 2020 COVID-19 Update
As New York State continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to update you as to the precautions we are taking to protect our patients and staff members. Our policy was written on 3/16/2020 in collaboration with our Medical Director, Medical Consultant, and Advisory Board Member who is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine. We have continued to update our procedures as new information has emerged, and we are meeting guidelines of the NYS Office of Mental Health as well as the Department of Health.
With increased infection rates and moving to orange (and possible red) status, Narins Eating Disorder Center is preparing to remain open in order to continue providing this critically necessary treatment. Mental Health is considered an essential service. Providing a safe environment for recovery is our top priority, and to that end, we have an emergency plan in place to operate our Partial Hospital Program via telehealth if necessary. Although we have no desire or intention to provide PHP services virtually, we feel it is important to be prepared for anything unforeseen. Although the pandemic has certainly created many challenges, we are committed to finding solutions that provide you the most comfort and safety possible. With that in mind, the following steps have been taken:
Although these steps can be inconvenient, our priority is to keep Narins EDC as safe as possible so that our patients can continue their necessary Eating Disorder treatment with minimal disruption. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We will get through this together.
Tracy Welchoff, Ph.D.
Owner/ Executive Director
November 2020 COVID-19 Update
As New York State continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to update you as to the precautions we are taking to protect our patients and staff members. Our policy was written on 3/16/2020 in collaboration with our Medical Director, Medical Consultant, and Advisory Board Member who is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine. We have continued to update our procedures as new information has emerged, and we are meeting guidelines of the NYS Office of Mental Health as well as the Department of Health.
With increased infection rates and moving to orange (and possible red) status, Narins Eating Disorder Center is preparing to remain open in order to continue providing this critically necessary treatment. Mental Health is considered an essential service. Providing a safe environment for recovery is our top priority, and to that end, we have an emergency plan in place to operate our Partial Hospital Program via telehealth if necessary. Although we have no desire or intention to provide PHP services virtually, we feel it is important to be prepared for anything unforeseen. Although the pandemic has certainly created many challenges, we are committed to finding solutions that provide you the most comfort and safety possible. With that in mind, the following steps have been taken:
- Support Groups are being conducted via secure telehealth.
- Family sessions are conducted via telehealth instead of having family members come into Narins EDC. Staff will remain accessible by phone and email throughout the program day.
- Patients are asked to follow all current Department of Health (DOH) recommendations including masking, travel-related quarantine, private gatherings, and other safeguards put in place. You can view all the details set by the DOH by following this link: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home . Any violation of this will result in discharge from the program.
- All staff and patients must mask before entering the facility and wash their hands immediately. Masks are worn by all patients and staff except while seated at the kitchen table for meals.
- During daily weights/ check-ins, patient temperatures will be taken. Any elevated temperature or other signs of illness will result in the patient being sent home from program.
- No visitors will be allowed until further notice except for food deliveries to the front lobby.
- Hand sanitizer is available in every room.
- Patients are seated 6 feet apart in the group room and kitchen. Given that we are a small program with large rooms, distancing has not been an issue.
- We are following food safety protocols as advised by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Patients bring their own blankets (if they choose) and must take them home to be washed weekly. They may bring in their own markers, journal, stress balls, etc to avoid sharing these items.
- We have doubled our cleaning service and sanitize high traffic spots daily.
- Staff are responsible for self-monitoring for symptoms of illness and through daily temperature checks on or before arriving to the facility.
- Any patients or staff members who are sick should stay home and recuperate and must meet DOH guidelines before returning to program. If a patient or staff member starts to feel ill during the program day, they will be immediately isolated until arrangements can be made to either go home or seek medical attention.
Although these steps can be inconvenient, our priority is to keep Narins EDC as safe as possible so that our patients can continue their necessary Eating Disorder treatment with minimal disruption. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We will get through this together.
Tracy Welchoff, Ph.D.
Owner/ Executive Director
