Mercy seeks to use technology to connect residents with loved ones | News, Sports, Jobs – The Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Mercy Living Center in Tupper Lake (Enterprise photo)
TUPPER LAKE — Mercy Living Center is encouraging its nursing home and post-surgery rehab residents to use teleconferencing technology to keep in touch with loved ones while visitations are indefinitely suspended due to coronavirus.
Adirondack Health Communications Director Matt Scollin said Friday that the facility is seeking to provide the technology needed to its residents, so their friends and families can keep in contact with them and the Mercy employees taking care of them.
Scollin said Adirondack Health has to find encrypted devices and apps to use, as employees may discuss medical information, which is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Scollin said residents are being contained in the facility, as there is a limitation on outside appointments, with exceptions only for the “medically necessary.” Scollin said Mercy will use its own vehicles for transportation.
He said there is also a ban on most vendors, so things like hair and nail care, or entertainment will have to be offered in-house. He said they have considered staff and resident talent shows.
“You spend enough time in close proximity, and things might get fun,” Scollin said.
He also said staff are screened and monitored for the symptoms of COVID- 19 daily and are all wearing surgical masks.
