To our Residents, Families, Staff, and Community:
As part of our ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents and staff members, we are providing another COVID-19 update. We will continue to provide weekly COVID-19 updates in the following weeks as well. In the event that we have a staff member or resident test positive for COVID-19, we will provide an additional update by the close of business the next day. As of today, Birmingham Green has no confirmed positive COVID-19 cases across campus.
We are aware of the Thursday, November 4, 2021 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement requiring staff vaccinations within long-term care facilities who participate with Medicare and Medicaid. All eligible staff must have received the necessary shots to be fully vaccinated – either two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson – by January 4, 2022. In October, Birmingham Green implemented a mandatory vaccination policy, requiring COVID-19 vaccination(s) for all team members, contractors, volunteers, and externs to the extent allowed by law.
At this time across our campus, a majority of our residents and team members have been fully vaccinated. In addition, over the last two weeks, we have administered the Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccines for all eligible residents and team members who provided consent.
COVID-19 testing for Birmingham Green staff members occurs once per week. Residents who test positive for COVID-19 or may have been exposed to the virus are isolated for 10 days. Full PPE is worn when working with residents who are assumed to be or test positive for COVID-19. We are continuing to follow CDC recommendations and all staff members will continue to wear the appropriate PPE and masks as well as perform proper infection control measures and stringent cleaning protocols.
We are currently offering virtual, window, indoor, and outdoor visitation arrangements across our campus. In addition, we have resumed indoor visitation by appointment. However, please note that while the facility will permit structured indoor visitation to residents, we continue to recommend and highly encourage outdoor visits, except for end-of-life compassionate care situations. To arrange an on-site visit across campus, please click here.
Birmingham Green has a new website design! To book a family visit please hover over the ‘Services’ tab in the header and select ‘Reserve Family Visit.’ Beginning on Monday, November 8, Health Care Center (Nursing Home) families can book Thanksgiving visits using the ‘Thanksgiving at the Health Care Center’ Calendar.
Visitors who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 can provide proof of vaccination to our Front Desk, which will document their status in a confidential logbook. Visitors who provide proof of vaccination will not be requested to get tested for COVID-19 upon arrival, but our screening process will continue to include a non-contact temperature check. If visitors have not been vaccinated or are unable to verify their vaccination, we will request a COVID-19 test to be completed upon arrival. With the high level of COVID-19 community transmission in our surrounding area, we will require all individuals to wear a mask while on campus, regardless of vaccination status, during visitation. We will continue to monitor the level of community transmission of COVID-19 in our local area and make adjustments as needed.
Birmingham Green will be hosting a Community Food Drive throughout the month of November. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the reception areas across campus at the Health Care Center (Nursing Home) and Willow Oaks Assisted Living. All proceeds will be delivered to the Northern Virginia Family Services (SERVE) campus located in Manassas, VA. We will also be hosting a Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 11 a.m. For more information, please see the attached flyers.
For the latest information or recorded updates via our dedicated COVID-19 phone line — (703) 257-6282. We remain committed to the safety and well-being of our residents and staff members, and we thank you for your patience during this challenging time.
Our residents are at the center of all that we do. Their safety and the safety of our staff will always be our priority.
Denise Chadwick Wright
Chief Executive Officer