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COVID-19 Resources and Updates

Hospice of the Northwest is committed to providing compassionate and dignified care for every patient and family we serve. Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has touched all of our lives, and it is changing the way we can provide hospice services to you. We are following the most up to date guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the University of Washington, and Skagit Regional Health. We want to assure you that we are committed to delivering the expert care you expect. Keeping our patients, their loved ones, and our staff safe is our highest priority.

What safety changes have been made at HNW?

1.) We are reducing the number of in-home and facility visits, in an attempt to reduce the risk of inadvertently spreading the COVID-19 virus to you. Our governor has asked every citizen of Washington to practice “social distancing” to slow the spread of this virus. We are therefore decreasing our number of “routine” in-person visits, and instead are conducting these over video (our staff will help you set this up) or by phone. For more urgent visits that have a direct bearing on your comfort, we will continue to provide in-person care to you, wherever you call home.

2.) With regards to personal protective equipment (PPE – i.e. gowns, masks, eye protection, etc.), we are following the guidelines set forth by the WHO, DOH and others. If there are no symptoms of COVID-19 in the home, we will practice good hand hygiene and keep physically separated as much as possible, without wearing protective gear. If there is someone who is symptomatic (fever, cough, shortness of breath) in your home, be it our patient or their caregiver, we will instigate droplet precautions by putting on a mask, eye protection, gown, and gloves. Additionally, if someone in your home is showing symptoms, we will ask that they wear a mask while our staff is in the home (which we will provide), and stay in a different room if possible.

3.) Because there continues to be a shortage of COVID-19 tests, we will not be routinely testing patients or caregivers. There may be situations where testing is warranted (this is on a case by case basis, and is evaluated by our physicians), in which case we can do this in the home. The nurse that carries out this procedure will practice airborne precautions, which include wearing an airtight mask, eye protection, gown, and gloves.

While everything we have just said is how we are practicing today, this crisis has taught us circumstances could very well change tomorrow. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will change our practices if necessary as new information comes to light from proven authorities.

How can you help?

Monetary Donations

Despite the disruption of COVID 19, providing compassionate and dignified care to dying people must continue. The patients and families that Hospice of the Northwest serves are still in need of expert end-of-life care, medication, equipment, grief and loss counseling, integrative therapies, and support for those who are un/underinsured. New considerations for keeping patients and staff safe have increased costs. Your gift in support of the “General Fund” allows the most flexibility to use resources where and when they are needed, including the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of care. Every gift, like every moment of life, matters. Please click here to make a gift, or call the HNW Foundation at 360-814-5702.

Donation of Items

If you are interested in donating items please click here (foundation@hospicenw.org) to send us a message and someone will reach out to you as soon as possible. Because safety is our top priority, all items must be medical grade, new, unused and in unopened packages.

Here is a list of items we may accept from the public:

Isolation Gowns
Exam Gloves (Non-Latex, Medical Grade ONLY – We cannot use industrial gloves.)
Thermometers
N95 Masks
Surgical (Disposable) Masks (No Cloth Masks)
Sealed Goggles
Face Shields

Your generosity will make a difference to more people than you can imagine. Thank you for supporting the compassionate and dignified end of life care. Please contact Wendy at the HNW Foundation office if you would like to explore more ways to give (wcoates@hospicenw.org).

COVID-19 Resources and Updates

What safety changes have been made at HNW?

How can you help?

State, federal, and other resources:

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