COVID-19

For the health and safety of our patients and our staff, FCHHA continues to monitor and adapt guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Vermont Department of Health and Human Services, including:

• Handwashing before and after patient visits, even if gloves are worn, and during patient care as needed
• Use and wear of facial protection (cloth or procedure masks, and eye protection)
• Frequent disinfecting of all work surfaces, including equipment used in patients’ homes, electronics and other materials that come into contact during and between patient visits.

We communicate with our staff daily regarding updates to ensure they have the latest information.

For Facts about COVID-19 visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the VT Department of Health and Human Services.

COVID FAQs:

Are all FCHHA employees vaccinated against COVID-19?

All FCHHA employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 in compliance with the CMS COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.

I’m fully vaccinated—why are FCHHA staff requesting that I wear a mask during their visits?

COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective in preventing serious illness and death. However, vaccination doesn’t prevent illness or spread of the virus. If you receive your annual flu vaccine, that shot helps to protect you from severe influenza symptoms, hospitalization and death—but you can still get the flu and be contagious to others. Many fully vaccinated people who experience “breakthrough” COVID infection do not have symptoms or have very mild symptoms. Given the highly contagious nature of the variants of COVID-19, we ask that you and your household members please consider masking during our staff visits to help keep them healthy. Since our staff travel to multiple visits each day, masking keeps our communities healthy as well.

What personal protective equipment (PPE) are FCHHA staff required to use during their visits?

The agency’s PPE protocol for staff follows up to date guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) and may vary from time to time, based on the level of community transmission of COVID-19 in our county and state.  Currently, the minimum requirement is a mask. Staff may wear additional PPE such as gowns, face shields, goggles, or N95 masks as appropriate. 

I have questions or concerns about FCHHA’s COVID-19 policies and procedures. Who should I speak to?

The FCHHA staff who visit you will be able to answer your questions, perhaps after consulting their manager. If you have a concern, please feel free to call the agency main number and ask for a manager or for me, Andrea Patrick-Baudet, CEO.