Home Health and Hospice Visits Safer Patients Infection

Immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, Redlands Community Hospital (RCH) started its “PPE Buddies” program for its Home Health and Hospice services. “PPE Buddies” are hospital employees who help Home Health and Hospice clinicians safely wear and remove personal protective equipment for infection control before and after entering a patient’s home.    The hospital has more than 30 “PPE Buddies” consisting of RCH nurses, physical and occupational therapists, or clerical staff, who have received specialized training on the proper donning and doffing of PPE, as well as safe disposal.   “We often work with a high-risk population when making home visits and the PPE must be properly worn and removed in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” says Ryan Lopez, LVN with Redlands Community Hospital Home Health. “Redlands Community Hospital is the only medical facility in the area to implement a ‘PPE Buddy’ program, which brings the same stringent level of hospital infection protocol into the home care setting.” A “Buddy” meets the nurse or occupational/physical therapists outside of the patient’s home and helps them safely and methodically don their PPE. Then after the visit, the “Buddy” places a pad on the ground outside the home and removes the contaminated PPE and safely disposes it. RCH Home Health and Hospice serves patients within a 30- mile radius of the hospital. Patients must have physician’s order to be admitted to program. To learn more about the Redlands Community Hospital Home Health and Hospice program visit: https://www.redlandshospital.org/services/home-health-services/ or call: (909) 335-5643. For more local news and information click here.