Burien’s Navos offering outpatient services by telephone or Zoom

Burien’s Navos wants the community to know that they are currently offering outpatient services by telephone or by Zoom.

Navos can provide telehealth services in your home or supported living environment with telephonic and electronic (computer, smart phone, or tablet) devices.

As an essential service offering critical programs to the community, Navos is operating its 24/7 behavioral health hospital in West Seattle, supported housing programs for about 300 adults who might otherwise be homeless, as well as the Sunstone program in Burien.

The Burien Mental Health and Wellness Center at SW 136th and Ambaum Blvd. SW is also open for pharmacy clients, Primary Care Clinic patients and for crisis services.

RECENT COVID-19 DEATH OF COUNSELOR JAMES SIMPSON
Sadly, on April 10, Navos Sunstone Counselor James Simpson passed away from COVID-19 (read The Seattle Times story here).

“Our hearts go out to the family of James Simpson and we too mourn his passing,” the organization said in a statement. “James will be remembered for his care for our young patients.”

“While some information is shielded by privacy restrictions, for MultiCare and Navos, there’s no higher priority than the safety of our patients and staff,” Navos said in a statement. “All MultiCare/Navos employees providing clinical care, including those at Sunstone, our residential behavioral health center in Burien, have had and continue to have the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to do their jobs safely.”

Sunstone says that they immediately isolated suspected cases of COVID-19, and that visitor restrictions were put in place in early March to protect patients and staff in alignment with Gov. Inslee’s ‘Stay Home – Stay Safe’ order.

“We have followed guidance for positive patients and have separate programs for positive and negative patients. We have worked closely with families and guardians and they have been understanding. We are supporting video visits and phone calls to ensure patients are able to stay connected to their support systems. MultiCare has also increased staffing to support Sunstone.”

“Navos’ Sunstone is a critical resource for our community, helping teens through psychiatric crisis. We diligently protect patients and staff so that the vital services provided at Sunstone remain available to families in need.”

Sunstone is a residential facility and not a hospital. Patients in medical hospitals are treated in their rooms and rarely leave that environment. In behavioral health facilities, patients receive much of their treatment in the general milieu outside of their rooms, and in group and individual treatment situations. They are often interacting with others, which increases the potential for transmission of the virus. Patients in these environments are in psychiatric crisis and therefore not consistently compliant with safety measures.

Here are more details:

• • The Multicare / Navos care teams are following World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Staff received training from MultiCare’s infection prevention team, and PPE supplies are readily available. This facility is following droplet precautions (gown, gloves, mask and face shield) and our conservation practices. Despite the worldwide shortage, our organization has sourced appropriate PPE from multiple companies. Sometimes the PPE looks different from the examples in the training materials, but it all meets our rigorous safety standards. Staff education on COVID-19 began on March 2. All staff have been instructed in proper disposal of PPE in an area off limits to patients.
  • Visitor restrictions were put in place in early March to protect patients and staff in alignment with the Stay Home – Stay Safe order. We have worked closely with families and guardians and they have been understanding. We are supporting video visits and phone calls to ensure patients are able to stay connected to their support systems. MultiCare has also increased staffing to support Sunstone.
  • Sunstone immediately isolated suspected cases of COVID-19. We have followed guidance for positive patients and have separate programs for positive and negative patients.

Because of patient privacy, Navos says they can’t discuss any patient diagnosis.

“In general, we discharge patients as appropriate based on their treatment plan for behavioral health issues. A patient who has recovered from COVID-19 can be safely discharged with instructions for isolation and mask usage.”

For an appointment or more information please call 206-248-8226 or go to www.navos.org (Medicare or Medicaid qualified only at this time).