Hale O Meleana & Ohana Pacific Management Company’s Response to COVID-19

Post-Acute Providers Across The State Taking Precautions Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic.

During this COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic it is critical that healthcare providers caring for the most vulnerable population take every precaution possible to protect the health and safety of residents, clients, patients, and employees. Post-acute healthcare providers across the State of Hawaii are making every effort to prevent this virus from entering their nursing homes. These efforts include a mandatory screening of all individuals entering homes and effective Monday, March 16, 2020, restricting non-urgent visitors.

In an abundance of caution for the safety of our kūpuna, we are asking for the public’s assistance in refraining from visiting unless visitation is needed for end-of-life situations or the mental well-being of a resident. For individuals who have loved ones residing at one of the above homes, providers are encouraging calling, emailing, texting, or video chatting during this time.

We recognize how important visits and socialization are especially for our kupuna and their families. Hence, this decision is heart-wrenching. The elder population is the most vulnerable and we are committed to their safety and well-being. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to serve and care for our kupuna. As such we will do our best to ensure their safety and well-being.

There is a risk that people who appear healthy will enter nursing homes and infect residents. Ohana Pacific Management Company following guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for long-term care facilities, as well as the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, to discourage visitation and screening all individuals even before COVID-19 is identified in the community because of the ease of spread in a long-term care setting and the severity of illness that occurs in residents with COVID-19.

Reminder To All Employees

Ohana Pacific Management Company is committed to ensuring the safety and health of our employees in light of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, effective immediately, we ask all employees to cooperate in taking steps to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases in the workplace.

For business travel, OPMC will continue to monitor the situation and provide guidance as more information on the extent and severity of the outbreak becomes available.

For personal travel, we recommend that all nonessential travel be avoided.

We encourage everyone to view the continually updated information on travel which is posted on the CDC website. Sign up for travel alerts through the U.S. Department of State.

When To Seek Medical Help

Please call a medical professional if, in the last 14 days, you:

Have traveled to an affected geographic area and have a fever and signs or symptoms of a lower respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath), or
Have a fever with a severe acute lower respiratory illness that requires hospitalization and doesn’t have an alternative explanatory diagnosis (e.g., influenza) and no known source of your exposure, or
Were in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and have a fever or signs or symptoms of a lower respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath)

When you call, please inform them of your symptoms and recent travel or potential exposure before going to the health facility.