BRICK – Artis Senior Living launched a Safety Council by partnering with Johns Hopkins physicians.
This council has been strengthening health and safety protocols in light of COVID-19. For several weeks already, the council has been guiding health and safety regulations at all locations. On one hand, they focus on the latest science to inform their decisions. On the other, they work proactively to head off problems before they arise.
The main aspects of the council include cleaning and sanitation protocols, use of personal protective equipment as effective tools against risk of infection or virus spread, and testing approaches to protect Artis residents, their families and staff. Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership from Artis and Johns Hopkins will continue working together on refining protocols and ongoing safety recommendations to provide a safe and positive living environment for community residents.
Artis is also adding Safety Officers. These new personnel will make sure staff are trained and implement the latest safety protocols.
“We are proud of this exciting partnership with a truly world-class organization like Johns Hopkins,” said Donald E. Feltman, Artis Senior Living President and CEO. “Our commitment to our residents, their families and our staff is at the heart of what we do. Their safety today, and always, is a top priority.”
Virtual Town Halls will be held for residents and their families, prospective Artis families and local physicians interested in safety efforts. For more information on the safety initiatives, visit TheArtisWay.com/SafetyCouncil.
For information from Johns Hopkins Medicine about the coronavirus pandemic, visit hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus. For information on the coronavirus from throughout the Johns Hopkins enterprise, including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and The Johns Hopkins University, visit coronavirus.jhu.edu.
The council is made up of:
- Michele Bellantoni, MD, CMD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is the Certified Medical Director for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Medical Director of Johns Hopkins Bayview Specialty Hospital Programs, and serves as Vice President of the MMDA (Mid-Atlantic Medical Directors Association).
- Morgan Jane Katz, MD, MHS, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a member of the independent Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes that will be advising the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Her area of clinical expertise is infectious diseases. Her research interests lie in infection control and antibiotic stewardship in long-term care facilities.
- Ravi Passi, MD, FACP, CMD, an attending physician in partnership with Artis at Olney Assisted Living in Maryland, is Board-Certified in Internal Medicine and has been in practice in Montgomery County, Maryland, since 1985. He trained at DC General and Georgetown University Hospitals. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a Certified Medical Director for Long-Term Care. Dr. Passi is a highly active member of the board of the MMDA and is a member of the AMDA (The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine™).
