Delivery Changes For Heartland effective 03/26/2020

All deliveries will be made outside the facility at a predetermined area. All totes now have separate bags inside. The totes will not be dropped off at this time, only the bags inside the tote.

1.      The driver should call the home 10 minutes prior to making their scheduled delivery.

2.      This will give the nurse time to bring out any returns, empty totes, EDK boxes, etc…

3.      Driver will open all totes and remove the contents. If the bag has control medications in it, it will be locked with a black numbered lock as usual and a control delivery sheet stapled to the outside of the bag.

4.      The driver will get a P.O.D. for the bag and for the control bag that’s inside the bag. This process will be followed for all bags/stations.

5.      All non-control bags will be locked with purple locks as usual.

6.      We will place a tote label on the bag so the nurse knows which station the bag goes to.

7.      Nurse will give driver brown paper bag with return medications in them.

Returning medications:

We will put brown paper bags in each tote to be used for returning medications. These bags will have a green sticker “RETURN MEDS” on each one before it arrives at your pharmacy. Please bring these out to your driver at the designated meeting location. If you have any EDK exchanges or pump returns, please bring those also.

ADM’S

Your ADM totes will follow the same procedure as your regular totes. They will have a separate bag inside. This bag will be marked with a yellow sticker “ADM RESTOCK MEDS FOR OMNICELL ONLY”. The control manifest will also be stapled to the outside of the bag to be scanned by driver to get a P.O.D.

Pumps

Instead of your red return totes, we will send you brown bags to return your pumps. These bags will be marked with a red sticker “RETURN PUMP: PLACE PUMP IN RED HAZARD BAG”. This brown bag will include a red hazardous bag, bubble wrap, and delivery ticket.

MEMORANDUM
To:            All Independent Contractors & Vendors
From:        Guy Cook, Compliance Manager
Date:         March 2nd, 2020
Re:            Interim Guidance of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Purpose
This document provides interim guidance for independent contractors and vendors to help prevent or detect suspected COVID-19 infections.
CDC will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.
This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.

CDC is working across the Department of Health and Human Services and across the U.S. government in the public health response to COVID-19. Much is unknown about how the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads. Current knowledge is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses.
The following interim guidance may help prevent exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, in non-healthcare settings.
Early detection, prevention, and control of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is important to protect the health of associates, couriers, vendors and our customers.

Reducing the Spread
To reduce the spread of respiratory infections including COVID-19, the CDC recommends:
• Postpone travel when sick
• Watch your health
• Self-isolate and inform medical center immediately if you develop a fever (100.4oF / 38oC or higher), begin to feel feverish, or develop other signs or symptoms of sickness
• Use respiratory, cough, and hand hygiene
     o Importance of covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Dispose used tissues immediately in a disposable container (e.g., plastic bag) or a washable trash can.
     o Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. (If soap and water is not available, then you can use a hand sanitizer containing 60%-95% alcohol).

Symptoms
Symptoms may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Patients have a fever if they feel warm to the touch, give a history of feeling feverish, or have a measured temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. COVID-19 infections have ranged from little-to-no symptoms to severe illness and death. The incubation period is believed to be 2–14 days.

We will provide additional information, as provided from the CDC.