COVID-19 Update

July 21, 2021

CHANGE IN COVID-19 SCREENING AT AMERICAN LAKE:

Effective today, American Lake transitioned to a decentralized COVID-19 screening process to more closely match that of our community partners. The main parking lot entrance across from building 81 re-opened, and the bus resumed service at all stops on campus.

All patients and visitors will be screened when entering patient care areas only, including Veteran Canteen Service Optical, but excluding Outpatient Pharmacy. Patients and Visitors shall be screened at the check-in desk, or Patients may utilize the kiosk for screening. Non-patient care areas, such as Eligibility and Enrollment, Release of Information or the Canteen, are not required to screen Patients or Visitors.

Patients/visitors will receive a sticker with the current date when cleared from screening, which must be placed visibly on their clothing. Patients answering positively to any of the COVID-19 questions for symptoms or exposure, must go to Secondary Screening (Tent 2, back parking lot) by calling 253-209-2475 (if possible) and wait for in your vehicle. 

America Lake's Domiciliary, Community Living Center and Blind Rehabilitation Center, will continue established COVID-19 screening protocols.

Other VA Puget Sound care sites remain unchanged, and continue required onsite initial screening prior to entering any building as well as secondary screening (as needed).

Thanks so much!


July 16, 2021

VISITATION POLICY:

All Authorized Visitors must:  ​​

• Have a negative primary COVID-19 screen.
• Receive secondary screen if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
• Wear approved face masks while entering and inside any of our buildings (if you don’t have one, we will provide you with one; no medical waivers).
• No masks required outside if physical distancing of six feet is maintained.
• Must be at least 18-years-old. No visitors under 18 allowed, with one exception: American Lake’s Child Care Center.
• Failure to adhere to masks and physical distancing policy will result in a loss of visitation privileges.

 Inpatient Visits:

• Visitation is allowed between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., unless prior arrangements are made with the unit nurse. Overnight visits are not permitted at this time. We are encouraging visits to be no longer than two hours.
• A single visitor may be designated in advance by the Veteran or the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will designee. Names must be submitted by the care team to the Authorized Visitor List in advance.
• Patients at imminent end of life (estimated within 72 hours) will be allowed a maximum of three visitors at one time. There may be a daily end of life visit for three days. No visitation following a patient’s death due to risk of infection. This may be arranged through your funeral home.
• Residents in the Community Living Centers (Seattle and American Lake), Spinal Cord Injury Unit (Seattle), Blind Rehabilitation Unit (American Lake) and Domiciliary (American Lake) remain restricted.
• Approved visitor names are placed on the Authorized Visitor list for seven days at a time. We are unable to rotate names within the one-week period. Approved visitors may visit daily.
• Visitors must sign in through the front screening station and check in at the nurse's station on arrival to the unit.
• Exceptions must be coordinated with care team in advance.   

Outpatient Visits:

• Patients can bring one person as an escort for navigation assistance or to provide care support.
• Visitor must stay with the patient throughout their visit unless specified otherwise by the health care team.
• Outpatient visitors are not required to be listed on the Authorized Visitor list.
• Veterans and visitors arriving for Same Day procedures that require a designated driver will check in as directed in their pre-procedure calls.

Please note:

• The Emergency Department will make decisions for additional persons accompanying the Veteran on a case by case basis.
• Unaccompanied minors cannot be left outside during your visit.
• Non-approved visitors may NOT wait in the facility.
• We ask that every effort be made to arrive as close to appointment time as possible, remain in designated waiting areas, and limit wandering in the facility.
• Vaccination status of the Veteran or visitor is not a consideration, although we appreciate it’s presence.

VACCINES:

COVID-19 vaccinations are available by appointment to Veterans, spouses, and caregivers at our main campuses: Seattle (Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Fridays 8 to 10 a.m.) and American Lake (currently Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 8 to 10 a.m.; starting August 9, Mondays and Fridays from 8 to 10 a.m.). VA Puget Sound is not offering walk-in vaccine appointments. The Seattle campus is currently offering the Pfizer and Janssen vaccines. Beginning the week of August 9, the Seattle campus will offer the Moderna vaccine and 2nd dose only for the Pfizer Vaccine. The Seattle campus will only offer the Moderna vaccine starting in September. The American Lake campus is currently offering the Janssen vaccine. Beginning August 9, the American Lake campus will offer the Moderna vaccine.

Individuals should call 206-716-5716 to schedule a vaccine. If you don't receive care at VA, sign up here (https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine) prior to calling to schedule an appointment.

While at VA you will need to wear a face mask, and physical distancing measures will be in place.  

You can also get updates on social media: https://www.facebook.com/vapugetsound and https://twitter.com/VAPugetSound. If you would like to receive automated updates via email, please sign up with your email address on our website - https://www.pugetsound.va.gov/index.asp - look under the social media icons on right for "Subscribe to Receive Email Updates."


VIRTUAL CARE OPTIONS: