Working Forward Through COVID-19 …

The recent Omicron surge was a bit deflating, seeming to take us backward rather than forward and interrupting many a holiday celebration. But before we get too down on the present, it’s important to  remember where we came from.  

While RVNAhealth has never closed our doors or turned a patient away during the pandemic, the unknowns over the past two years have certainly outweighed the knowns. For most of 2020, the world was marked by fear, anxiety, and isolation.  Just a year ago, in early 2021, we were all battling with VAMS (the computer scheduling system) and scrambling to vaccinate and get vaccinated.  As the end of 2021 approached, optimism was in the air. Life as we knew it seemed within reach.

Omicron challenged that. Intensely contagious, it hit many unaware, and the timing wasn’t good. 

But there was encouraging news with Omicron. Among the vaccinated, the severity indicators —  hospital length of stay, ICU admissions, deaths — were all lower than previous variants, especially in those who were boosted. A step in the right direction.   

At RVNAhealth today, we continue our COVID-19 efforts, bringing Boosters to the homebound and to  congregate settings, and keeping our own team in action, able to serve the patients and communities who need us every day — not only for COVID-related conditions, but for all the services we offer, from wellness and prevention to end-of-life care. 

While pandemics are not predictable, we are buoyed to see a healthy return to such offerings as post-surgery nursing and rehabilitation and important vaccines like Shingles and Tdap. The 2022 RVNAhealth Wellness Fair is also on the calendar in May, offering preventive screenings and tests to help us catch up after the pandemic lapse. 

Life is coming back, slowly but surely, and RVNAhealth remains committed to the health of our communities.  Meanwhile, a look back reminds us of all we’ve done and been through, and keeps us hopeful in the present. 

Before the pandemic even arrived in CT, the RVNAhealth clinical team began performing fit testing to ensure individual masks protected patients and staff.
Jessica Velasco, RN, transitioned from her office role to serve hospice patients she had known in a prior position. Her decision and actions were heroic and selfless.
The generosity of community members and friends was extraordinary —enabling RVNAhealth to do our job.
The requisite temperature check — a practice that persists today.
Friends and supporters kept the RVNAhealth team going strong with donations of PPE, funds, and in this case, lunch, courtesy of Silver Spring Country Club, one of many such special deliveries.
The Silver Spring lunch boxes were appreciated more than anyone can imagine.
Chief Clinical Officer, Keri Linardi (center), looks humble, but was extraordinary in her vision and response to an unprecedented event.
Goody bags await the RVNAhealth field team, offering sustenance and gratitude during a challenging time.
Even in the darkest of days, the RVNAhealth team stayed strong and greeted each other with genuine smiles and camaraderie.
Deb Trevelin, RVNAhealth Finance Director, in the throes of it in 2020. One benefit of masks is that they minimize the impact of touching our faces. 🙂
RVNAhealth Spring Breakfast 2020. The tables were turned and Fairfield County Bank treated RVNAhealth to a welcomed breakfast from Dimitri’s Diner.
Preventative services were moved outside in Spring 2020 for the safety of all.
Maceo Baker, hospice CNA, grabs a 2020 Spring Breakfast for the road. Maceo became instrumental in encouraging others to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it became available in 2021.
In May 2020, with the support of the Ridgefield Thrift Shop Hospice Fund, RVNAhealth orchestrated haircuts for patients in need with the expertise of Jorge Romero, Ridgefield Police Officer and licensed barber. What a treat!
Summer 2020: RVNAhealth nurses celebrate with a jubilant patient who has graduated from COVID-19.
The pandemic introduced new in-office protocols as RVNAhealth could not risk exposure inward or outward that would put anybody at risk.
In January 2021, Theresa Santoro, RVNAhealth President & CEO leads by example, receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to turn the corner on the pandemic.
In January 2021, the Town of Ridgefield and RVNAhealth collaborated on a mass vaccination center at Yanity Gym. Over 16,000 COVID-19 vaccines were administered between January and the end of May.
Day in and day out, the RVNAhealth team and Town of Ridgefield CERT Volunteers worked together to vaccinate those in need. (Which was just about everybody.)
RVNAhealth friend and Board member, Valerie Van Beek, MD, volunteered at Yanity Gym daily to vaccinate our population.
Early 2021: the RVNAhealth team conducts COVID-19 vaccine clinics at the Newtown Community Center.
Summer 2021: Short sleeves are back, and we took to the streets to bring the COVID-19 vaccines to Danbury through the Danbury Health Equity Grant.
Summer 2021: RVNAhealth at C-Town in Danbury, offering information, answers, and vaccines.
In addition to offering COVID-19 vaccines at Yanity Gym in Ridgefield, and in many other municipalities, RVNAhealth also serves homebound patients, administering the vaccine and sitting tight for 15+ minutes to ensure no undue reactions.
January 2022: RVNAhealth staff members test regularly to ensure they are COVID-free.
January 2022: RVNAhealth administering Boosters at Ballard Green.
Teamwork! RVNAhealth’s BeWELL nurse Fernanda Araujo, RN, administers a booster to Madlba Molatudi, StayingWELL Caregiver.
RVNAhealth Music Therapist, Tiffany Lee, quietly hums a tune while getting her booster.

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