The Toll Of Covid-19 On Long Term Facilities
Covid-19 has had a profound effect on people, business, and social norms. Employees and residents of long term care centers have been some of greatly impacted by the challenges of this pandemic.
One of the most tragic results of having to isolate nursing home residents is that they have lost access to one of the most fundamental human necessities, personal interaction with loved ones. While technological advancements allow for video calls, nothing can replace the sight, sound, or touch from a friend or family member.
Although most people accept and understand the need to keep these facilities, their employees, and residents safe, not being able to have face-to-face interaction has been heartbreaking, especially for those whose loved one is at end of life one of these care centers.
Harmony Enterprises’ Core Purpose is career, community, and Culture. Finding ways to give back to the community in which we live is at the foundation of who we are. That’s why when Gundersen Harmony Care Center called us looking for a portable safety partition solution for their facility and for Gundersen Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove, MN, we knew we had to help! Harmony gladly donated the design and labor time to the care centers for this important project.
Harmony Care Center has a long tradition of providing quality compassionate care for its residents. It was awarded a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2020. Identifying the need for family interaction is just one of the many examples of vision and compassion that sets this facility apart from the rest.
Designing With A Purpose
Engineer Steve Scrabeck, who has been an integral part of Harmony’s success for 47 years, accepted the challenge and set to work designing a solution for the local nursing home.
Staff at Harmony Healthcare demonstrate the effectiveness of the portable safety partitions recently designed and donated by Harmony Enterprises.
Throughout his tenure at Harmony, Steve has created multiple custom designs and equipment enhancements on our quality balers, compactors, and liquid extraction equipment. Each design has been masterfully prepared to help reduce costs, increase efficiencies, while improving the environment. The purpose behind the curtain partition project for the Gundersen Care Centers was no less important, and resulted in a long lasting functional solution that will benefit families for years to come.
Steve and the Harmony Engineering Team forwarded the design to the Gundersen team, to provide feedback. Receiving suggestions for desired product enhancements, Steve’s team went to work putting in the finishing touches. Engaging with our customers to ensure the right solution is something Harmony takes seriously from initial customer contact, through solution proposal, design, production, and implementation.
Josh Bessler, who is a dedicated production employee, was instrumental in the fabrication and assembly of the steel and glass curtains. The careful expertise behind the hand crafted quality assembly will ensure that the separators will last for a long time.
The innovative design of the portable safety partitions allow them to be wheeled in and out of any part of the health care facility.
The curtains stand several feet tall and are wide at the base, with collapsible wings. The entire units are on locking swivel casters, allowing them to be wheeled easily into meeting spaces, and through doorways or around seating areas and equipment normally found in nursing homes.
The full sheets of thick Lexan provide a high level of protection from water droplets know to potentially carry any contaminants. Lexan was specified by the care center team as it has fire ratings needed to meet their safety requirements. This allows family members a safe way to gather directly in front of their loved one for a more extended period of time.
Michelle Borreson, Director of both of the healthcare facilities, conveyed her appreciation about the project, stating, “We cannot thank Harmony Enterprises enough for making these. Such a tough time right now in long-term care as well as in healthcare in general. We received them and they are perfect! We rolled them right down the hall and put them into use!”
Borreson also added that the portable safety partitions can be used to help partition off certain wings of buildings. After undergoing an infectious disease control survey by the Minnesota Department of Public Health, she was happy to report that they received positive feedback from the surveyors who were impressed with the Lexan divider.
What Solution Do You Need?
Harmony Enterprises sets itself apart from other manufacturers in that we offer a wide range of solutions, designed specifically with the individual need of every customer in mind. We use our Proven Process to ensure that you receive the right proposed solution for your business. What solution do you need to help save you time and money, or keep your employees and customers safe? Give us a call at (507) 886-6666 or Contact Us today. We look forward to hearing from you!
