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QUESTION: Due to precautions related to COVID-19, how are providers transporting individuals to day services, jobs, etc.? For providers using staff cars, what precautions have you implemented? All persons in vehicle must wear mask at all times. Hand sanitizing as often as possible. Some of the precautions we have implemented are the staff and client wearing face masks while in the cars, and suppling had sanitizer for the vehicles. We also have the employees taking temperatures at home before they work with a client and again before they enter the Arc building. The Pre-ETS group takes self and client temperatures before they go to a work site and wearing masks and washing hands often. Some of the guardians in Pre-ETS have been meeting us at work sites where we bring extra masks, hand sanitizer, soap etc. These guardians are also asked to take client temperatures before they get to the site. Attached below are the best practices document that we have created as we begin to slowly return to services. The Employment Services team continues to telework at this time, and likely will until late July/early August. With regards to transportation, our first phase back will be to assist any clients in transporting them to a job interview or to work if they get a job and need it. Not mentioned in the document, but important to note, is that all clients are asked to sit in the back seat to socially distance. I hope this is helpful to someone else. Attachments: Best Practices ES Bag Technique Screening Questions Our Day Services just opened up, but any client that attends has to provide their own transportation - for now. (June) We ask families if they can. Vans are at 50% capacity with individuals wearing masks. in use of cars, each car is equipped with a plastic bag containing masks, disinfectant spray and gloves (if needed). Cars are to be disinfected/touch areas wiped after use. We are implementing the same precautions that are in the facility. This will apply to staff picking up individuals for community services (medical appointments, park, and grocery), routes to the center and/or community employment services. Masks should be worn at all times in the vehicle due to distancing being limited when there is more than one person. Spread out as much as possible (i.e., driver and one consumer, the consumer would sit in the back seat). Upon entering the vehicle, wellness questions are asked and temperatures taken. Hand sanitizer is used upon entry of the vehicle. This documentation is recorded and turned in to QA at least weekly. To save time on routes, if the consumer is at one of our own staffed homes, the house staff will do the check prior to route picking them up and recording the answers. Since the check was done on the way to the facility, anyone riding a route in is not checked upon entering the building - but do still need to wash their hands again and have their masks on. These persons were checked within the last half hour in the vehicle so not needed the second time. Persons brought in with other transportation means are still fully checked upon entering the building. Shared vehicles are wiped down with sanitizing wipes when a driver exits. Lysol can be used at that time also. It’s all a team decision. We are using our public transit. We are taking temperatures, requiring use of masks, if any COVID symptoms they cannot be transported. We are also attempting to seat 6 feet apart and/or staggering seating. Only 1 client allowed in a 2 row vehicle –2 clients allowed in separate rows in a van. No one is allowed in the front passenger seat. Vehicles are wiped down in the interior at all touch points after each transport. We have very few clients going to jobs at this time and none going to day programs (so far they’ve not been invited to return to the facility based programs that have opened). We do take clients out for rides, getting takeout food, or grocery shopping when part of their plan. For any trips outside the home, we transport clients living together with masks when clients tolerate them to help them learn to wear masks and staff wearing masks at all times while working. Since the clients live together, we don’t look at social distancing or have concern with masks other than as a learning opportunity. The question of the virus living on surfaces to the extent that it can be contagious has not been shown to be a significant mode of transmission generally, so we are not sanitizing vehicles, but are keeping them clean. This information is a compilation of suggestions, ideas, and opinions shared by INARF Members in response to the featured question. This information should not be considered official interpretation or guidance of State or Federal Policy. Additionally, statements within this document do not necessarily reflect an official position or opinion of INARF.
QUESTION: Due to precautions related to COVID-19, how are providers transporting individuals to day services, jobs, etc.? For providers using staff cars, what precautions have you implemented?