PIC values the health and safety of our clients and our staff. PIC staff will conduct health screenings before each home visit. The reason for the health screening is to verify your household is ready for a home visit without illnesses. PIC providers visit several families each day and it is important to ensure, as much as possible, that our provider will not be exposed to colds, flus, or viruses, that they will then bring to the next home. In addition, all PIC providers perform health screenings each day. PIC providers will not come to your home if they are feeling ill or are experiencing symptoms of cold or flu. PIC providers are not able to come to your home when there is a family member who is ill. You will be asked in the health screening about the health of a member of your family.
In the event that home visits are not possible due to illness, you may be offered to have your visit be completed virtually. PIC has been using Zoom for several years to provide services when in-person services are not appropriate. The virtual services would require you to have a device such as a tablet, phone, or computer and an internet connection. Parents can request or refuse virtual services.
There are other times when in-person visits are difficult, including weather related travel advisories. During winter, there are days when snow storms or other adverse weather creates a safety hazard for PIC staff driving on the roads. During these adverse weather conditions, PIC staff may be directed to move to virtual services for their own safety. Again, parents may be asked if services can move from in-person to virtual. Parents can refuse virtual services.
Virtual Services:
PIC has learned that there are some situations where virtual services or those provided through ZOOM have particular benefits. During the pandemic, all PIC services were provided in this way. Parents and their child were at home while PIC providers were on their computers in their home. Providers were able to observe parents with their children and coach parents to interact with their children in different ways. Although not always ideal, many parents reported that they may have learned more because they needed to learn in the moment.
In addition, some sessions, such as IFSP development meetings, transition conferences, and other service coordination type appointments often work well with ZOOM because more family members are able to call in. In-person meetings require people to leave work or exclude extended family members who live far away from important discussions.
PIC will offer to provide some of your child’s appointments using ZOOM when appropriate. As parents, you can request virtual visits or refuse them.