During this public health emergency, our Resource Center remains closed to visitors for the time being. For any questions, please call our office at 541.757.9616 for up-to-date information. Grief and caregiver support continue by phone and online. The safety of our staff, patients, their families and community at large is our top priority. We will continue provide updates as the situation unfolds.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
As COVID-19 disrupts our lives in new ways, the needs of patients seeking hospice and palliative care, their families, caregivers and the bereaved in our community grow daily. Delivering compassionate care amidst the challenges of COVID-19 requires us to adapt our practices, at increased expense.
By making a gift to Lumina at this time, you are making a difference to ensure our ability to further our mission of providing compassion, comfort and support through the end-of-life experience. Donate here to make a difference in a time of crisis or click here to learn more.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU
At this time of social distancing, it’s more important than ever that those who are grieving, isolated or suffering loss connect. We continue to provide grief support and caregiver support online and by phone. Please call us at 541.757.9616 for more information.
For other ways to cope during these challenging times, check out the resources here.
LUMINA’S RESPONSE TO COVID
The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted all our lives in ways we never imagined. Here’s an update on how we, at Lumina, are responding:
We continue to place utmost priority on your health, safety and comfort as the COVID-19 pandemic moves into a new phase. With sustained community transmission of the virus, we feel it is important to reiterate the steps we are taking to protect your health and safety, as well as that of your families, our staff and the community at large. Our objective remains delivering the comfort, care and support you need at this time.
To minimize and manage the risk associated with delivering care in this environment, we are following all protocols recommended by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and we remain in contact with these authorities daily for the latest updates and recommendations. Specifically, our staff are practicing increased infection control practices including handwashing hygiene, using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and practicing distancing. As professional healthcare workers, our staff are trained in these infectious disease control practices.
With the presence of sustained community transmission, we know that any individual may contract the virus without a known exposure. In an effort to protect everyone’s safety, we ask that you inform your Lumina team if anyone in your household exhibits the following symptoms so we can take appropriate precautions: fever or chills; cough or shortness-of-breath; fatigue, muscle or body aches; headache; sore throat, congestion or runny nose; new loss of sense of smell or taste; nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
We want you to feel safe and comfortable about the care you receive in your home. Therefore, if a member of your Lumina team has symptoms or suspects they have had an exposure to COVID-19, our physicians will conduct a risk assessment of the team member to determine the level of precautions warranted under CDC and OHA guidelines. If it is determined that your team member needs a COVID-19 test, in order to assure we protect your health and safety, you will be notified and your team member will not be available for in-person visits until they are medically cleared. If your Lumina team member is temporarily restricted from in-person visits, you will be given the option of a telehealth visit, or of a visit by another Lumina team member.
Providing you with comfort, care and support is our mission. While it may be tempting to refuse visits from our staff to reduce potential risk of exposure to the virus, we know that seeing you regularly and frequently is essential to providing you with quality hospice and palliative care. We want to address any concerns or questions you may have, so please feel free to contact our office at 541-757-9616.
Sincerely,
Helen Kao, MD, Medical Director of Clinical Innovations
Shawn Foley, MD, Medical Director
Daniel Harris, MD, Hospice and Consult Physician
Please note that guidance is subject to change at any time based on new information.