April 8, 2020 Update:

Across the state, emergency medical technicians are visiting nursing homes to ensure facilities are managing the COVID-19 situation properly and following the state and federal directions for preventing its spread. Also, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued new guidance stating that residents and patients should cover their mouth and nose when staff are in their room.

To respond to this guidance, Brooks Rehabilitation is now providing all residents and patients with cloth masks. These cloth masks offer the CDC recommended protection for individual residents in their homes and communities, such as in Bartram Crossing, University Crossing, and Bartram Lakes and The Green House Residences. The staff are required to wear surgical/procedure face masks. We continue to screen and monitor everyone in the facility for COVID-19 symptoms every day, which includes staff, residents and patients. Daily temperature checks are taken for anyone who enters the building and for all residents and patients.

In addition, all Brook’s staff are receiving additional infection prevention training which includes safeguards for anyone who shows signs of COVID-19. To date, we have had no patient, resident or employee test positive for the virus.

We know it is difficult not being able to visit with your loved one so we are offering communication opportunities:

• Phone or video appointments: You have the option to conduct a virtual video visit with your loved one using either FaceTime or Zoom. To speak with a member of our Brooks team who will assist in scheduling and setup, simply call (904) 990-6186 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., or send an email to ConnectWithBrooks@Brooksrehab.org.

Click here to read the letter that was sent to all residents and families.

Coronavirus Resources

April 2, 2020 Update:

To help protect our patients, effective immediately, all patient-facing staff in our hospital, outpatient and home health are required to wear a face mask while in patient care areas. There is no change to the current process in Aging Services.

Non-clinical areas and corporate employees (those who are not patient-facing) will not be required to wear a mask unless they enter a patient care area. This is to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE).

Coronavirus Resources

March 27, 2020 Update:

Joint statement from our CEOs

March 26, 2020 Update:

Brooks Rehabilitation continues to monitor guidelines and recommendations released by Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Florida Department of Health, political leaders and clinical practice governing bodies.

Our outpatient-based services are an essential part of the overall healthcare system. We will continue to provide medically necessary care to patients. We have created clinical guidelines for screening all active and new patients in high-risk groups as defined by the CDC. The goal is to identify those patients and offer alternatives such as Mobile Therapy (therapy in your home), eVisits or home health. We are also diligently disinfecting and cleaning all high-touch areas of the clinics and equipment before and after each use.

We will continue to communicate regularly with employees, patients and residents regarding updates.

Coronavirus Resources 

March 19, 2020 Update:

Brooks continues to follow the ever-evolving situation around COVID-19, as well as local and federal guidance for our different healthcare settings. All actions we take are for the safety of our patients, residents and employees.

Bartram Crossing, University Crossing, Bartram Lakes and The Green House® Residences:

The newest measures establish the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most aggressive recommendations with respect to safety in the face of the spread of COVID-19. We will fully abide by these new guidelines. These include:

• Restricting all visitors, effective immediately, with limited exceptions
• Restricted outside travel unless medically necessary, i.e., doctor’s appointment or medication
• Restricting all volunteers, vendors and nonessential personnel
• Cancelling all internal and external group activities and group dining
• Implementing active screening of residents and health care personnel for international travel during the past 14 days, fever and respiratory symptoms

Phone or video appointments: In addition to making phone calls to your loved one, now you also have the option to conduct a video call using platforms like FaceTime and Zoom. One of our teammates will help you reserve a phone or video conference time, help you with instructions on the technology needed for the call, assist your family member in making the call and answer any questions you may have.

• To speak with a member of our Brooks team who will assist in scheduling and setup, simply call (904) 990-6186 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., or send an email to the following address: ConnectWithBrooks@Brooksrehab.org anytime. Morning through early evening appointment times are available.

We have mailed a comprehensive letter outlining these changes in more detail to all residents and their families that you can view here.

Brooks Hospital

As of Friday, March 20, we are no longer allowing any visitors to the hospital. This decision was not made lightly and is in the best interest of our patients.

• Exceptions can be made for a single, designated caregiver who is needed for significant care to the patient (Someone who is here a minimum of 8 hours per day to provide assistance and/or significant emotional support).

Outpatient Clinics

We have canceled all independent exercise programs in all outpatient clinics and Neuro Recovery Centers. All other outpatient clinics remain open unless specifically listed as closed.

Adaptive Sports and Recreation

All Adaptive Sports and Recreation activities have been canceled through Sunday, April 19, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. We will reevaluate at that time.

Coronavirus Resources 

March 16, 2020 Update:

Due to partnering facilities closing, the following Brooks outpatient clinics are currently closed:

• Brooks Rehabilitation San Jose JCA
• Brooks Rehabilitation Center for Sports Therapy
• Brooks Rehabilitation Riverside – Healthy Living Center

Coronavirus Resources 

March 15, 2020 Update:

We recognize that Brooks plays a critical role in the healthcare system of our communities, so we are taking every step possible to prepare and protect our patients, families and employees. There are no known cases among Brooks patients, employees or residents.

This week, state and federal agencies released a new set of guidelines and requirements for many healthcare settings with strict recommendations for skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Other guidelines have been released for hospitals and home health settings. Below is an outline for each impacted Brooks care setting:

VISITATION:

• Bartram Crossing, Bartram Lakes and The Green House® Residences and University Crossing: Per an order from the Governor and the CDC, all SNF and assisted living facilities are required to limit visitations. Except in very limited circumstances, no one other than staff will be allowed inside. We are making arrangements to help patients and families connect with loved ones via video conference appointments and more.
• Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital: Starting Monday, we will begin limiting visitors to patients’ immediate family members or a significant other only.

VISITOR SCREENING:

• Bartram Crossing, Bartram Lakes, The Green House® Residences, University Crossing and Brooks Hospital: The limited visitors that are allowed in these care settings will continue daily screening and we will incorporate temperature checks in the coming days. Individuals who fail the screenings will not be permitted in the buildings.
• Outpatient, Home Health, Physician Practice and Community Programs (Clubhouse, BRAC, Helen’s House): We will begin daily screening of patients and visitors next week. We will add temperature checks as soon as we can.

Please check back here for updates as we release them. We are communicating directly with employees, patients, residents and their families as appropriate.

Coronavirus Resources 

March 11, 2020 Update:

We continue to closely monitor the latest information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure the protection of our patients, residents and employees. We are in close contact with our health care delivery partners and vendors, including our acute care referral partners. We are following the most recent reports from the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC), CMS and other regulatory agencies for guidance on navigating the COVID-19 situation. While it is fast evolving, the most important, current priorities are skilled nursing and long-term care settings.

We are actively screening at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, Bartram Crossing, Bartram Lakes, The Green House® Residences and University Crossing according to criteria established by the CDC and the Florida HealthCare Association.

• All employees, visitors and vendors will be required to complete daily screening. Additional security staff will facilitate the screening process. Please ensure to account for this screening process prior to any shifts or scheduled appointments.
• Everyone who enters the buildings – employees, visitors, contractors, those delivering goods or services, etc. – will be asked a questionnaire. This will help identify individuals who may be at risk for COVID-19.

Please enter our buildings through the approved entry point and be open in responses regarding symptoms of any illness or if travel to any area that may be in question.

Please check back here for updates as we release them. We are communicating directly with employees, patients, residents and their families as appropriate.

Coronavirus Resources