Recent Updates from the Lakeview Health Team
September 2021 – Lakeview Health achieves a nearly 90% staff vaccination rate.
Through early outreach, education, and onsite vaccine clinic, Lakeview Health has reached a nearly 90% vaccination rate amongst their Jacksonville, FL. staff. Please read our press release for more information.
April 2021 – How we are keeping our community safe
We are now offering optional Covid-19 vaccines to all patients. Please read our press release for more information.
A message from our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lantie Jorandby:
“During these unprecedented times, it is crucial that our facility remains a safe space for those seeking treatment. We have seen drastic increases in overdose rates, alcohol consumption and rates of depression and anxiety. While Florida has seen a spike in cases recently, I want to assure patients and their families that we are taking every precaution necessary to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 to ensure our facility stays a safe and open space for you.”
Our top priority continues to be the wellness and safety of our patients and staff. We are open, operating very safely, and accepting admissions. Our medical staff continues to closely monitor COVID-19 cases and adjust our business practices as needed. While Florida has seen a spike in cases recently, we want to assure you we are taking every precaution necessary to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 exposure on campus.
On top of the well-established protocols put into place, we have enhanced our testing and pre-admission measures at our facility. Here are a few of the many ways we are able to keep patients and staff safe:
- Consistent and Attentive Care: Our medical, nursing and clinical staff members are onsite 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide immediate care and support as needed. This provides patients and their families an extra layer of security knowing that should a medical concern arise, we’re there.
- Speedy and Accurate Testing: Each patient is comprehensively tested upon admission. While waiting for test results, patients continue to receive care in a comfortable resting area away from current patients. Test results are provided usually between 24-36 hours. As an added layer of security, patients have the option of being tested again at discharge, providing peace of mind for a safe return home
In September we received the newest Abbot Laboratory testing machine which has provided us the ability to screen test results on-site and get patients into detox and treatment faster.
- Pre-Screening Measures: Our admissions team requires additional information to complete screening protocols for all new patients. Patients coming from “hot-spot” locations will be required to receive negative COVID-19 test results prior to being admitted.
- Optional Vaccinations: Each patient has the option to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, administered by our medical team upon admission.
Additional measures that we continue to practice:
- All staff members have been offered the Covid-19 vaccine.
- Non-essential staff work remotely and have restricted access to patient areas and wellness facilities.
- All staff and patients are refraining from handshaking, fist-bumping, hugging, or any other forms of physical contact. They must also wear face masks in common areas.
- Group therapy sessions are held outdoors with social distancing, when weather permits.
- Off-campus activities are limited to only those where we can ensure limited interactions and safety such as parks, surf therapy, and equine therapy. When weather permits, we are also holding group therapy sessions outside.
- Family drop-offs are not permitted at this time.
- Family workshops are held virtually.
- We are limiting access to our campus, any guests must complete our Covid-19 screening process
- If an employee goes on leave or vacation, they are required to undergo significant testing when they return to the facility.
Our exceptional team is dedicated to continually offering our life-saving services to those most in need of our services during this unprecedented time.
Past Covid-19 Updates
Lakeview Health Offering Free Virtual Meetings to Support the Community During Coronavirus
To create connection points for those in recovery, Lakeview Health’s Alumni and Aftercare team is providing free recovery support groups on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon EST.
The groups provide additional encouragement for those in recovery to stay on track during an incredibly challenging time.
Lakeview Health Will Remain Open and Continue to Provide Essential Healthcare Services Through Government-Mandated “Stay-at-Home” Order
As we continue to monitor local, state and federal government guidelines, we understand the growing pressure for state officials to mandate “stay at home” orders. We want to assure you that Lakeview Health will remain open and continue to provide critical health services through the “Stay-at-Home” order.
We understand the vital role our addiction treatment center provides for those suffering with substance use disorders and know it is imperative we continue to provide these lifesaving services.
We have already put many procedures in place to mitigate the risk of a potential COVID-19 outbreak – including restructuring our intake process in an effort to increase our safety measures for incoming patients.
Our top priority continues to be the health and safety of our staff and patients.
We pride ourselves on adhering to the highest quality standards, as we follow the federal guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as protocols from The Cleveland Clinic and standards established by the American Society of Addiction Medicine standards, ensuring we provide the framework for achieving quality outcomes for the addiction community we serve, even as we are challenged by these circumstances.
Our exceptional team is dedicated to keeping our doors open and serve those most in need of our services during this unprecedented time.
Lakeview Health Enhances Intake Process to Reduce Risk of Outbreak
A message from our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lantie Jorandby
“We feel it is more crucial than ever that those seeking treatment are able to have a safe and medically sound place to get healthy. Our facilities operate with a full-time medical staff following applicable CDC infection control precautions and are enhancing our efforts to mitigate the risk of an outbreak. We do not want COVID-19 to be the reason someone doesn’t seek treatment.”
We believe our latest efforts will help to reduce potential exposure to our staff and patients, while continuing to serve those who need our help.
Our facilities provide the unique ability to restructure the way we admit our new patients while still being able to offer the same high-quality medical care and oversight.
Effective today, all new admissions will be accepted in a separate building on our campus where patients will medically detox under 24/7 care. During this time, daily vitals will be checked and any symptoms indicating a potential COVID-19 diagnosis will be evaluated.
We want to reassure you that incoming patients will continue to receive the same well-established and credentialed treatment; we are simply dedicating area where they will receive this treatment.
Additional measures now in place to reduce this risk of an outbreak include:
- Non-essential staff have restricted access to patient areas and wellness facilities.
- Offsite recreation (such as equine and surf therapy) and 12 step meetings have been suspended.
- When weather permits, we are holding group therapy sessions outside.
- Family drop-offs are not permitted at this time.
- In-person family sessions and visitations have been suspended and are instead being held via phone or virtual meetings.
- Family workshop weekends will be held virtually.
- No guests are allowed on campus – including tours and community groups who use our meeting spaces.
- All staff and patients are refraining from hand shaking, fist bumping, hugging or any other forms of physical contact.
We are confident these enhanced efforts will help to limit the risk of exposure for all our valued community.
A message from Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lantie Jorandby:
“We take the health and safety of our patients, potential patients and staff very seriously. As leaders in the addiction treatment industry, we want to be sure we can help those seeking treatment in a time where there is uncertainty – which is why we have implemented well-established protocols aimed at mitigating the risk of an infectious disease outbreak.”
If you are currently considering treatment, here are some things we want you to know:
- Those suffering with substance use disorder have medical issues and are potentially immune-compromised, leaving them at a greater risk for contracting a virus. There is no better time than the present to get treatment.
- Detoxing without medical supervision poses a greater risk of death than the coronavirus. While we understand that traveling under the current circumstances presents fear for many people, we also want to stress the importance of detoxing under medical supervision. If you are seeking treatment, please don’t delay in contacting us.
- Our residential facilities are located in Jacksonville, which is one of the only three locations in Florida with a coronavirus testing facility. Furthermore, we have the capability to test for coronavirus on campus and are following CDC and Florida Department of Health guidelines for testing. · If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms or have a fever, please follow CDC guidelines before making the decision to travel anywhere.
Here’s what we’re doing at our facilities to reduce the risk of a potential outbreak:
Our full-time medical and clinical team are fully prepared to recognize warning signs and implement preventative measures to reduce risk. Effective immediately here are a few of the many extra precautions we have put in place:
- We offer testing for coronavirus as indicated by CDC and Florida Department of Health guidelines for testing.
- Our 24/7 nursing staff will complete daily vital tests to every patient and staff member at all levels of care.
- Staff who have traveled internationally or on a cruise will be tested.
- We have implemented telemedicine options where applicable.
- To limit the exposure possibilities, site tours and family visitations will be suspended for the time being.
If you currently have a loved one in treatment at any of our facilities, our clinical team will be reaching out via phone call and e-mail to update you on our current procedures and provide you answers to any questions you may have.
A top priority will always be to keep our patients and staff safe and healthy.
We will continue to keep you informed with any updates at lakeviewhealth.multiplica.dev/coronavirus. We encourage all reading this to continue to be mindful of your surroundings while in public and ensure you are following CDC guidelines.
In conjunction with our existing infection control policies, Lakeview Health is closely monitoring local, state and federal guidance regarding the coronavirus in order to enhance efforts in keeping our patients safe and healthy. Our physicians and staff are following CDC guidelines and each facility has added additional screening measures for incoming patients, such as review of travel history and current health status, in an effort to reduce those with flu-like symptoms from admitting to our facilities.
As a public reminder, the most important things individuals can do to prevent the spread of any illness is:
- Wash your hands often. Wash your hands before and after you eat, cough, sneeze, use the bathroom, and when providing care to a patient. Make sure you use soap and scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds (happy birthday song twice). If soap and water are not readily available, please use an alcohol-based sanitizer containing at least 60-95% alcohol.
- Cover your nose mouth when you sneeze or cough. Cover your mouth with a tissue; if you don’t have a tissue, use your elbow. Remember to wash your hands after you cough or sneeze.
- Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs often spread this way.
- Perform routine environmental cleaning. Frequently clean commonly used surfaces such as tables, doorknobs or handles, keyboards, remote controls, touched surfaces workstations and countertops. Disposable wipes are a great way to perform this preventative measure.
A top priority will always be to keep our patients and staff safe and healthy.