Messages
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | September 11, 2020
As Mercy Circle continues to enjoy its status as a CMS Phase Three community, we will reopen more common areas on our campus. Please look for a listing of current practices Mercy Circle follows to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 posted at the top of the page on our website that shares information related to the virus.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | September 4, 2020
The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed Mercy Circle is now a CMS Phase Three community and Trinity Health has approved our plans to reopen more amenities and services for residents to enjoy.
This highest ranking is based on that fact that there are no new cases of COVID-19 for all members of our community.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | August 28, 2020
Once again, we gratefully report no new cases of COVID-19 for all members of our community. Residents were tested on August 24 and employees on August 24 and 25.
With our most recent positive case on August 5 for a resident in skilled nursing care, Mercy Circle has achieved 22 consecutive days with no new incidences of the virus among our residents. Currently, Mercy Circle has moved to CMS Phase Two.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | August 21, 2020
We received negative results for COVID-19 for all residents and staff members who have been tested for the virus since August 3, 2020. Achieving 14 days without a new positive test outcome for a resident has put Mercy Circle in CMS Phase One, according to the new Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines that became effective last Friday, August 14.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | August 17, 2020
On Sunday, we received a positive result for one full-time CNA, who last worked on Sunday, August 9, in our skilled nursing care unit. This staff member is recovering while quarantined at home. Please join us in observing all HIPAA regulations designed to protect the privacy of everyone at Mercy Circle.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | August 14, 2020
Today, new guidelines published by the Illinois Department of Public Health take effect for Mercy Circle and for all senior living communities with skilled nursing care, memory care and assisted living residents across the State. These guidelines start with stating this plan strives to balance enforcing necessary precautions to protect residents from the virus while considering the importance of their quality of life.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | August 8, 2020
Late on Friday, we received a positive result for the virus for one skilled nursing care resident who was tested on Wednesday, August 5, as part of Mercy Circle’s weekly testing protocol. This resident moved to the skilled nursing care’s isolation area staffed and equipped to care for residents who are recovering from COVID-19.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | August 7, 2020
Earlier this week, we reported three residents received positive results for COVID-19 for tests administered here by the Illinois Department of Public Health. All are now recovering in the area we have isolated in the skilled nursing care wing. Our staff is following all CDC-designated precautions as they deliver care for them. Please respect everyone’s privacy by observing all HIPAA regulations.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | August 5, 2020
On Tuesday, we were informed that one assisted living resident has tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first resident in our AL community to have this outcome.
Even though this resident, who tested positive, is asymptomatic, we are moving this resident to the designated COVID-19 isolated area in our skilled nursing care wing for residents with the virus because we have a staff dedicated to caring for these residents there.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | August 4, 2020
When we received most of the results for the COVID-19 tests administered on Friday, July 31, we learned that two residents and one staff member tested positive for the virus. Previously, these individuals had negative test results.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | July 31, 2020
We are concluding the month of July with more encouraging news for our community. There are no new active cases of COVID-19 at Mercy Circle.
Since last Friday, the second resident, whose test outcome was pending, received a negative result and has no symptoms. All residents, who were tested following one other resident’s positive test result, have tested negative. The employee, whom we reported as having a positive result, has recovered and returned to work according to CDC guidelines.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | July 28, 2020
Starting tomorrow on Wednesday, July 29, Mercy Circle again will host outdoor visits with assisted living residents. We are grateful our community has achieved 14 consecutive days without a new case of COVID-19. This benchmark meets the current CMS requirement to reinstate outdoor visitations.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | July 26, 2020
In my weekly letter on Friday, I informed you we were waiting for two residents’ test results for COVID-19. We now have received a positive result for one resident who is being treated in the hospital. We have not yet received the other test result for the resident, who is symptomatic and isolated. Please join us in respecting their privacy by observing all HIPAA regulations.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | July 24, 2020
As of this morning, we have no new cases of a resident or staff member who tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, we are waiting for test results for two residents who have symptoms associated with the virus. We cannot be sure of their status, however, until we are notified of their test results.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | July 17, 2020
Residents and staff members have no new cases of COVID-19 since I informed you earlier this week about two skilled nursing care residents and one staff member, whose tests administered on July 10 indicated positive results. Our two residents now are recovering in an isolated area and our employee is recuperating at home.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | July 14, 2020
Since yesterday afternoon, we received all the results for COVID-19 tests which were administered on July 10 to residents in assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care and to all staff members. Two residents and one staff member tested positive for the virus. All three were quarantined immediately. All other residents and staff members who were tested have negative outcomes for the virus.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | July 10, 2020
Last Friday, I shared with you encouraging news about how our community would start moving forward because we achieved three consecutive weeks when all residents in assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care continued to receive negative test results. Today, I update that heartening report that Mercy Circle residents have achieved a fourth consecutive week with no positive test results.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | July 3, 2020
We hope to begin hosting outdoor visits with residents on Tuesday, July 7, because Mercy Circle has achieved 14 consecutive days without a new case of COVID-19 to meet the requirement of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | June 26, 2020
We share your extreme disappointment because Mercy Circle now must postpone scheduling outdoor visits with residents. In other parts of our country, we see how not respecting the power and threat of COVID-19 can cause a resurgence of the virus. So it remains our highest priority to adhere to numerous ways to protect members of our Mercy Circle family.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | June 25, 2020
Last Friday, I informed you of a new requirement by the Chicago and Illinois Departments of Public Health to test all residents and staff members who reside and work in Mercy Circle’s assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care units.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | June 19, 2020
Our residents and staff members continue to be free of COVID-19. This fact encourages us to fortify our commitment to your safety by heeding all guidelines published by the agencies that have provided direction during this global pandemic.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | June 12, 2020
I am very pleased to report the newest achievement of Mercy Circle’s sustained infection prevention and control practices designed to abate COVID-19 in our community. At this time, Mercy Circle has no new cases of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | June 5, 2020
During this past week, all 57 residents who live in assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care were tested for COVID-19 using the PCR swab test.
I am very grateful to report every single resident received a negative test result. With universally negative outcomes, we have concluded droplet and contact precautions in the skilled nursing care unit.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | June 2, 2020
As we make plans to open more areas of Mercy Circle, we balance those eagerly awaited opportunities with prudence and precaution. In consultation with Moira McQuillan, M.D., our medical director, and Mercy Circle’s clinical team, we have devised a new plan for COVID-19 testing for residents and staff members.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | June 1, 2020
This afternoon, we received notification of test results for one more staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19. This employee, who works in our assisted living wing, is recovering at home.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | May 29, 2020
We continue to count our blessings. We have had no positive cases of COVID-19 among our residents. Two staff members in the nursing department, who have tested positive, are at home recuperating from the virus.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | May 28, 2020
We received notification of test results for one additional staff member who received a positive test result. This employee had been working in our assisted living wing and is recovering at home.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | May 22, 2020
We continue to count our blessings. We have had no positive cases of COVID-19 among our residents. Twenty-five employees have tested negative. Three staff have recovered and returned to work in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Another three staff members, who had tested positive, are at home recuperating from the virus. This week, more staff members were tested; currently, 11 test results are pending.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | May 18, 2020
We received notification of test results for additional staff members late on Sunday and throughout today. These test results indicate one more staff member, who is on our dining services team, has tested positive for the virus and is recovering at home. Please respect the privacy of all staff and residents by observing HIPAA’s confidentiality rules.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | May 16, 2020
We received notification from two staff members late Friday evening that they just received positive test results for COVID-19. Neither provided direct care to residents. Both part-time employees—a housekeeper, who has not been on our campus since April 26, and a dining services worker—are recovering at home. Please respect the privacy of these individuals by observing HIPAA’s confidentiality regulations.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | May 15, 2020
We are blessed to be able to report there are no new cases of COVID-19 among our staff members and there has not been a single case of the virus among our residents.
Still, we remain vigilant about adhering to all the guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Services, as well as the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Public Health.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | May 8, 2020
On Thursday afternoon, we received notification that a third staff member tested positive for COVID-19. This staff member has not been in our facility since April 28 and now is isolated at home to recover.
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | May 3, 2020
On late Saturday evening, we received notification that a second staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. Both staff members, who have tested positive, do not provide direct…
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | May 1, 2020
On Thursday afternoon, we received notification that one of our staff members tested positive for COVID-19. This staff member does not provide direct care to residents and now is isolated…
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | March 26, 2020
As you know, Mercy Circle continues to monitor information regarding COVID-19 cases and updated reports and guidelines for Chicago, especially the southwest sector…
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | March 23, 2020
On Saturday, March 21, following the advice of leading public health officials, Governor Pritzker put into effect a statewide Stay-at-Home order. His goal is to…
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | March 17, 2020
Over the past couple of days, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Services (CMS) have imposed more severe restrictions on visitations. Effective immediately…
COVID-19 Message from the Executive Director
by Frances Lachowicz | March 11, 2020
As you know, COVID-19 poses a health threat to our entire population, especially to the elderly and those with underlying conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and…