COVID 19 and Monitoring Programs

[RN0904, BSN, RN]

Just curious if anyone’s monitoring program has addressed this?

[svetlana36]

Our facilitated group meetings are online until further notice. As far as I know this is optional per IPN, not sure what other groups are doing. Everything else is business as usual.

[Rbek719]

Is anyone concerned that testing sites will close? They are shutting down everything where I am, so wondering if the testing sites are considered “essential” businesses?

[Mom2boysNJ]

I am wondering how any of these monitoring programs will handle a scenario where one of us is required to self quarantine due to COVID illness or exposure and therefore cannnot test if we were selected during the quarantine period.

[DistressedRN]

Not only that, but if Labcorp and Quest are running their own covid-19 tests, I have no desire to go sit in their waiting room with people who think they’re contagious!

[Mom2boysNJ]

COVID testing will not be done at outpt lab sites such as Quest or LabCorp due to the public risk that would present.

[rn1965, ADN]

16 hours ago, Mom2boysNJ said:

I am wondering how any of these monitoring programs will handle a scenario where one of us is required to self quarantine due to COVID illness or exposure and therefore cannnot test if we were selected during the quarantine period.

I would hope with documentation, that time would just be forgiven by the program. But, I do not know.

I know I was at an AA meeting last night, and several people were still insisting on the hand holding in the end. Not me, I politely stood out of the circle.

[Mom2boysNJ]

I too recently opted out of hand holding at my AA meetings. I expect that as social distancing becomes more enforced, we will as least temporarily find less AA/NA continuing to be available. I know one of my meetings has temporarily lost it's meeting place as the facility that we meet in is opting to limit public use. I expect many other meeting sites, especially church facilities, who cannot provide or ensure effective sanitation of their locations, to temporarily halt use for AA/NA meetings.

New Jersey's RAMP program sent participants an email yesterday stating online meetings would be allowed, but we must provide proof or documentation. We currently have our meetings GPS tracked, logging in and out of each meeting. Those of us in the program for substance abuse issues are required to attend 3 meetings a week. How would one even document or provide proof of an online ANONYMOUS meeting, a screenshot? I found one online meeting that provides documentation of online attendance . . . for a fee! How would one document an online video based meeting through Zoom, Skype, or GoToMeeting apps? If anyone has experience with online meetings, please share your experiences.

[Indiana RN, BSN]

SMART recovery online meetings offer verification for free and there is also a meeting ID code. Indiana is doing the same, online meeting acceptable but check in and testing as usual.

[Mom2boysNJ]

23 minutes ago, Indiana RN said:

SMART recovery online meetings offer verification for free and there is also a meeting ID code. Indiana is doing the same, online meeting acceptable but check in and testing as usual.

Unfortunately, in NJ we are required to attend 12-step meetings, so that would exclude SMART recovery as an option.

[OhioRN1234]

I bet they will think our request to limit testing/meetings is an excuse to get high. Or extend our contracts. We are given no respect as professionals in any way. I just started a new job at an elective surgical center. I imagine things will slow/stop greatly soon. Will my time count? Am I expected go to labs for useless urine drug screening? I have small kids at home (no school for at least two weeks, probably the rest of the year) one with asthma. I hate that with everything going on that I am even thinking about this stuff.

[rn1965, ADN]

On 3/15/2020 at 8:41 AM, Mom2boysNJ said:

How would one even document or provide proof of an online ANONYMOUS meeting, a screenshot? I found one online meeting that provides documentation of online attendance . . . for a fee! How would one document an online video based meeting through Zoom, Skype, or GoToMeeting apps? If anyone has experience with online meetings, please share your experiences.

I am only required one per week and I am allowed a SMART meeting for that and they do provide documentation/proof of attendance via email 1 hour after meeting.

I understand they (online AA) have to pay for software but it stinks they charge people for proof of attendance.

I emailed my case manager this morning, just to be sure that I can attend online only. I will keep doing the SMART meetings. I already pay enough for UDS, etc, and cannot afford a fee for "proof" of a meeting as well.