We are continuing our services to you primarily by phone, through our TeleHealth visits. In some situations you may need to see your provider in person. Such situations, would include new intake assessments, new psychiatric evaluations, medication administration visits, laboratory visits, Clozaril Clinic, pharmacy pick-ups and other services at the clinician’s discretion.

Similarly, our other programs continue to serve you utilizing TeleHealth and other services as needed. Please feel free to contact your counselors, therapists or case managers by phone, if you have any questions.

For general information, contact our offices.

Here’s the latest information from the City of Philadelphia

Recommenmded Best Practices for Hygiene and Health Safety:

City of Phila. Health Guidelines

Home Care Instructions

COVID-19 Helpful Info

The Consortium is committed to the safety and well-being of the individuals we serve, our employees, their families and our community. In this regard, we offer the following Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) to ensure we are responsive to the needs of our stakeholders and are prepared and equipped to provide continuing services and supports during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Service/Work Continuation Plan

The Consortium’s Actions to Address the COVID-19 Outbreak

• We have implemented a daily conference call that includes executive management (CEO, COO, CFO and CMO), program staff representing each division and program, Talent and Stakeholder Supports (HR), facilities management, fiscal department staff and Board liaison. During the call, we discuss and coordinate necessary changes in service delivery, concerns and needs of members and staff, and updates from government officials and our funding sources. This daily communication allows us to have a unified, organizational response to this rapidly changing situation.
• The Consortium has been approved by OMHSAS for Temporary Telehealth expansion services.
• Initial and continuing steps taken to support continuity of operations include:
• Developingproceduresandprotocolsforthedifferenttypesofservicesweprovide such as outpatient programs, case management services and our community-based residential program
• Reducing on-site services and implementing telemedicine options for several of our services including remote work for many of our staff
• Screening all persons presenting at agency facilities for scheduled services. Screening includes a brief survey related to the individual’s health and taking individuals’ temperatures before they are admitted to our facilities.
• Sending regular updates and education to our staff, member sand families to keep them as up-to-date as possible. This includes updating our website https://consortiuminc.org/ to include general information and links to additional information.
• Purchasing additional supplies including hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, masks, and gloves.
• Increasing the frequency in cleaning our facilities as a preventative measure.

Administration – 3751 Island Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19153

• The Consortium’s administrative offices will continue to remain open Monday-Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm with a reduced staff presence. Staff working remotely will be available via email and telephone.

Adult Outpatient (MH) – 5501 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139

For our clients in Outpatient Programs: We are continuing our services to you primarily by phone, through our TeleHealth visits. In some situations you may need to see your provider in person. Such situations, would include new intake assessments, new psychiatric evaluations, medication administration visits, laboratory visits, Clozaril Clinic, pharmacy pick-ups and other services at the clinician’s discretion.

Similarly, our other programs continue to serve you utilizing TeleHealth and other services as needed. Please feel free to contact your counselors, therapists or case managers by phone, if you have any questions.

For general information, contact our offices.

Children’s Outpatient – 2821 Island Ave., Philadelphia, PA 10153

• Intakes for the programs will continue to be available on a limited basis as are all other site-based services based on member preference for face-to-face services. Group services have been suspended.
• Telehealth services are being provided via telephone or video conferencing as an alternative to site-based services.
• Clinicians are making periodic wellness checks via telephone to provide ongoing monitoring of members.
• The mobile crisis team is available to make wellness checks to adult member homes and is deployed to members in crisis to facilitate stabilization or assist with 302 hospitalizations.
• Medical staff are using telehealth to conduct medication management visits.
• Transportation is provided on a limited basis to children and families who are scheduled for site-based services.

West Philadelphia High Outpatient – 4901 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19139 – Closed

Paul Robeson High Outpatient – 4125 Ludlow St., Philadelphia, PA 19104 – Closed

Adult Blended Case Management (ABCM) – 5501 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19139

Children’s Blended Case Management (CBCM)/Family Based/Functional Family Therapy (FFT) – 2821 Island Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19153

• Staff are calling all members to educate them on personal safety protocols. Case managers are making calls to also determine whether individuals/families are open to home visits, meeting in the community or check-in via phone or video conferencing. Case managers are otherwise providing services to members as usual.
• Staff will use video calling capabilities to facilitate some means of visual safety/wellness checks when members choose to forgo home visits.
• We will continue to accept new referrals and conduct intakes for these programs face to face using social distancing protocols or via telephone/video conferencing as an alternative.

SEEDS (CIRC Program) – 5501 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19139

On-site psychiatric rehabilitation services have been significantly reduced, however, to ensure members’ continued support and well-being, staff are making daily contact via phone/video conferencing or home visit with members.

• In community activities have been suspended.
• Members are seen on-site for Clozaril clinic

Addictions Services (MAT and Drug-Free) – 451 University Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104

WORD Adolescent Drug Treatment Program – 137 S. 58th St., Philadelphia, PA 19139

Daily dosing continues for the MAT program. The agency is in the process of evaluating members for take home medication eligibility to reduce traffic to the facility.

• On-site individual and group services have been suspended at the 451 University Avenue facility.
• Counselors are providing individual therapy via telephone and video conferencing. Additionally, care managers/counselors are conducting daily wellness checks via telephone or video calling.
• The agency plans to implement a group experience for members using Skype, Zoom or other teleconference means to have remote group capability.
• Individuals who present for dosing are screened for general health and elevated temperatures before being admitted to the facility. Individuals with temperatures at or above 100 degrees are being dosed outside.

Webster Street CRR – 5205-07 Webster St., Philadelphia, PA 19143

• Residents and staff have been provided with prevention information.
• In the event that a resident exhibits symptoms and needs to be quarantined, the program has dedicated a unit within the facility that will be used for quarantine. If a resident becomes mildly ill staff will call ahead to the local hospital before sending the person for care. Staff will call 911, per protocol, for individuals who become seriously ill and need to be transported to the hospital.
• Staff who exhibit symptoms or who have been exposed to the virus have been directedto remain at home.
• The facility is sanitized daily.

Supports Coordination – 2821 Island Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19153

• 75% of staff are working remotely.
• Staff are conducting monitoring and ISP meetings via phone/conference calls, Skype or other teleconference means.
• Staff meetings are being conducted via phone/conference calls. Face-to-face meetings are suspended

Greenhouse Supported Employment Program – 5501 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19139

• Staff are making check-in calls to members offering remote support and employment counseling.
• Telephonic support is being provided to members who have been affected by layoff or termination in the wake of the outbreak to assist them with filing for unemployment benefits.
• Members are being offered the opportunity to participate in skills building workshops to be offered via video conference

Communication Plan

The Consortium is committed to providing information updates to all stakeholders as quickly as possible. To accomplish this objective, the agency has or will take the following steps:

• Letters have been sent to members detailing the agency’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak that include information on service reductions, alternatives to on-site or face-to-face contact and general safety information about the virus
• The agency’s website will be regularly updated with changes in services; members and staff have been informed to check the website for updates
• Key individuals have been designated who are responsible to communicate operational changes to OMHSAS, CBH and other stakeholders
• The agency will use established telephone trees as an additional method to rapidly communicate changes in services to staff

Staffing Plan

In general, all agency staff have been or will be equipped to work remotely in the event of facility closures. Currently, more than 50% of the agency’s staff are working remotely and delivering services and supports using telephonic or video capabilities. Certain administrative support staff whose jobs cannot be performed remotely have been redeployed to support other departments.

The agency continues to recruit to fill vacant direct care positions incorporating the use of Skype to conduct interviews. We do not currently have staff reporting illness or self-quarantine due to the COVID-19 outbreak and, therefore, do not anticipate unusual staff shortages at this time. Additionally, staff have been given the option to work remotely to address any childcare concerns.

For questions concerning the Consortium’s Continuity of Operations Plan, please contact Patricia Brooker via email at pbrooker@consortium-inc.org or 267-233-5369