An open letter to our community | Rabbi Yehuda Kaszirer, Director, Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim

Following the Purim excitement, we’d been anticipating our routine preparations for Pesach. But for reasons known only to Hashem, we’ve had to restructure our plans significantly due to all the coronavirus developments. As the virus is coming closer to home, we are undertaking all possible precautions to safeguard our community’s health, especially those with compromised immune systems.

We encourage all those with medical questions toproceed to their primary care doctors for guidelines.

Bikur Cholim has increased available services across all departments.

Accommodations: At our Bikur Cholim Friendship Houses, we’ve increased our cleaning staff hours andhired disinfection agencies to ensure the sterilization of all surfaces. This includes all ten locations, housing 150 guests per night.
Food: As hospitals are on an extremely modified visitation allowance, Bikur Cholim is stepping in to fill this growing need. In order to be properly prepared for the uptick of patients and homebound individuals, Bikur Cholim is doubling its effort to ensure adequate meal coverage – multiplying the 2,000 Yom Tov portions to 4,000. In addition, the kitchen Pesach switchover will take place 10 days ahead of schedule.
Medical equipment: Bikur Cholim has greatly increased its medical supply inventory of wheelchairs, crutches, etc., as well as specialty items such as CPAP, nebulizers, etc. We are purchasing an advanced sterilization system to avoid any cross-contamination.
Transportation: Bikur Cholim has a fleet of 11 vehicles, available at all times to transport patients to appointments.
Health at Home Project: In order to minimizeunnecessary exposure for those with compromised immunity, our team of volunteer nurses and phlebotomists are making house visits to administerany blood draws.
Advocacy: We are in constant contact with all regional hospital directors, working togetherclosely to maintain the highest standards in healthand preempt undue alarm.

As the hospitals are bombarded with concerned individuals, we are working overtime to meet our patients’ “routine” medical needs despite the severely limited availability of public products and services(medicine rationing, staff shortages, overcrowded ERs, etc.).

Unfortunately, there is a confirmed case in Ocean County – may Hashem help that it not spread further.

The situation has created many logistical nightmaresfor those with medical conditions. We have appointed one representative in each regional hospital toadvocate for all patients and assist them in every possible way, in light of the visitation ban.

Anyone who is looking to partner with Bikur Cholim in covering all these unforeseen costs, may this be a zechus for you and your entire family. If you have access to medical supplies, please call or text (732) 905-3020.

As always, please feel free to reach out to Bikur Cholim with all your medical needs.

May Hashem continue to protect our city,

Rabbi Yehuda Kaszirer

Director, Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim

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