As the Phoenix Center monitors the latest developments with COVID-19 (also known as the novel Coronavirus), we will continue to carefully balance the needs, health, and safety of our clients, staff and community.

At this time, the Phoenix Center will continue to be open and provide medically necessary services to our clients.

Update: 6/8/21 

Due to being a healthcare facility, we will continue to require all Clients and Staff to wear a mask within our facilities to follow DHEC regulations.  We will no longer require temperature checks, but will continue to encourage social distancing.

A mask will be provided for clients if they do not have one of their own.  If a client is unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition, we will set up a telehealth appointment for them. 

Update: 8/3/20

A mask will be provided for clients if they do not have one of their own.  If a client is unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition, we will set up a telehealth appointment for them. 

Update: 6/15/20 

General Precautions

Clients & Staff

• Clients will be asked to complete a symptom screen upon initial entry and at least once per week. This may increase to daily if necessary.

• Staff who have been working remotely will complete an initial symptom screen upon return to work and notify HR of any changes.

• If you are sick, or have any symptoms such as – fever, cough, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms – you are asked to stay home and contact your health care provider.

• Staff or clients who are sick are recommended to stay home.

• Staff or clients with a temperature of more than 100 degrees must stay home.

• Until further notice, we do not encourage staff or clients to bring children into the buildings in order to limit exposure to the children.

• No pets on the premises at this time.

Building Preparations

• CDC/DHEC signage is posted at all locations.

• Tape will be applied to the floor 6’ apart at reception windows in all locations.

• Masks and sanitizer will be made available, when possible, to staff and clients.

• Group room chairs and door knobs will be wiped down with disinfectant before and after each group.

• Lobby chairs, entry-way door knobs, and railings will be wiped down with disinfectant twice a day.

• All facilities will be monitored for proper air flow.

Adult Services

Outpatient Groups - Some will resume with a maximum of 8 clients per group. Groups include IOP, Level I, PRI, PPPS, and Prevention (Parenting).

• Groups will be staggered as much as possible to limit the number of clients in the building.
• Temperatures will be taken of staff and clients at the start of group.
• Clients will be encouraged to leave an empty chair in between them and/or seat 1 client per table.
• Clients will be encouraged to wear masks during group.

Assessments will remain at the Industrial Drive location. Clients will be referred for group or individual sessions at Cleveland Street, depending on LOC and availability.

Lobby on the 1st floor will be limited to 3 clients and the 2nd floor will be limited to 8 clients. Clients will be asked to wait outside the building once lobby reaches capacity.

NA/AA evening and weekend groups can resume with a maximum capacity of 25 participants. Weekday daytime groups can resume with a maximum capacity of 10 participants. Social distancing guidelines should be adhered at all times.

Adolescent Services

BRIDGE staff will be allowed to resume home visits. Staff will be required to wear a face mask while in the client’s home. Hand washing and/or hand sanitizer will be used before and after the visit. Social distancing guidelines will be used during the visit.

Groups will resume with a maximum of 10 clients per group.

• Temperatures will be taken of staff and clients at the start of group.
• Clients will be encouraged to leave an empty chair in between them and/or seat 1 client per table.
• Clients will be encouraged to wear masks during group.

Family Support Group will be suspended at this time.

All new outpatient clients will be referred to group or individual sessions, depending on Level of Care and availability.

Update: 4/14/20

If you need Outpatient Services but can’t come in to our office because of COVID19 concerns, call 864-467-3790 to discuss Telehealth options.

Update: 3/20/20

As we continue to monitor the progress of COVID19 and maintain compliance with all governmental recommendations and requirements, the following additional safety precautions are being taken.

ADULT SERVICES - effective on Monday, March 23rd

1. Only 9 beds will be filled in the Detoxification Unit so that all patients have a private room.
2. Current IOP groups will continue to meet at scheduled times but each group will be limited to 9 participants.  If more than 9 clients show up, staff is prepared to add an extra group for those clients.  Once current IOP clients are ready for level 1 services, they will be transferred for individual sessions with a combination of face to face and remote interactions.
3. Level 1 groups which are scheduled for less than 9 hours per week, will be replaced with individual sessions for all clients in those groups.  These individual sessions will be a mixture of face to face and remote interactions.  
4.  Assessments will continue but all new clients will be referred for individual sessions rather than group sessions.
5. In order to reduce the number of staff and clients in the buildings at any one time, the outpatient assessment team will move from the Cleveland Street location to the Industrial Drive location.  
6. All IOP and MAT sessions will remain at the Cleveland Street location.  
7. Individual sessions will be held primarily at the Cleveland Street location but will be scheduled during non-peak times which are from 12-5 pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; any time on Wednesday; before 12 pm on Friday; and any time on Saturday and Sunday.
8. Further steps to reduce the number of staff and clients in the building at any one time includes adjustment of indirect staff work hours in the office.  Indirect staff has been asked to work outside the office except during the days and times noted above.
9. Staff with underlying health conditions, including pregnancy, are recommended to work from home.
10. Staff or clients who are sick are recommended to stay home.
11. Staff or clients with a temperature of more than 100 degrees must stay home.
12. PRI and other education classes will be provided remotely.  
13. Temperatures will be taken of all staff and clients before sessions are provided.

1. Proper residential bed utilization will be adhered to at all times.  
2. Services will continue throughout the whole of village.
3. Groups will be limited to no more than 9 clients.
4. Magdalene Outpatient group will continue with the option for clients to have individual session if they choose.
5. Clients will not be able to take a personal pass off the premises.
6. No visitors will be allowed on the premises unless approved by the Program Director.
7. The gate will be closed at all times to monitor who is coming and going.  
8. Visitation between residential women and other children who live off the premises may continue as long as neither has a fever over 100 degrees.
9. Staff with underlying health conditions, including pregnancy, are recommended to work from home.
10. Staff or clients who are sick are recommended to stay home.
11. Staff or clients with a temperature of more than 100 degrees must stay home.
12. Temperatures will be taken of all children on a daily basis before sessions are provided.  
13. Face to face family sessions must be pre-approved.
14. Peer Support services and family sessions will utilize remote interactions as much as possible. 
15. Family Support Group will be suspended at this time.  
16. Steps to reduce the number of staff in the building to include adjustments of staffs schedules to be able to rotate hours in the facilities.

1. Proper residential bed utilization will be adhered to at all times.  
2. Groups will be limited to no more than 9 clients.
3. Clients will not be able to take a personal pass off the premises.
4. No visitors for residential program will be allowed on the premises unless approved by the Program Director or Program Coordinator
5. Screenings will be done on all persons coming in for an any appointment. 
6. Family Support Group will be suspended at this time.  
7. All new outpatient clients will be given option of individual sessions instead of group.
8. Steps to reduce the number of staff in the building to include adjustments of staffs schedules to be able to rotate hours in the facilities.  
9. Staff with underlying health conditions, including pregnancy, are recommended to work from home.
10. Staff or clients who are sick are recommended to stay home.
11. Staff or clients with a temperature of more than 100 degrees must stay home.

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With basic concern for safety of all involved, we are taking the following steps effective March 17, 2020:

Clients & Staff

• Clients will be asked to complete a symptom screen upon initial entry and at least once per week.  This may increase to daily if necessary.
• Staff will complete an initial symptom screen and notify HR of any changes.
• If you are sick, or have any symptoms such as – fever, cough, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms – you are asked to stay home and contact your health care provider.
• Until further notice, we do not encourage staff or clients to bring children into the buildings in order to limit exposure to the children.
• No pets on the premises at this time.
  
• Clients will be asked to complete a consent to allow staff to contact them via electronic means including home phone, work phone, cell phone, or email in order to notify them of an changes.  If a client authorizes, the communication will be private without the release of any PHI and an email will be encrypted.

Visitors, Volunteers, & Meetings

• All non-essential volunteers and visitors will be asked to remain out of the facilities until further notice.  This includes volunteers at Serenity Place and White Horse Academy. 
• Regular coalition and other partner meetings will occur through conference call, tele-health equipment, or other distance means.
• To keep group sizes small, Recovery Speakers will not be attending Outpatient groups until future notice.
• We ask that only 1 person from home groups attend Detox recovery meetings until further notice.
• Facility tours are postponed for now.
• Onsite AA and NA meetings have not been canceled at this time, but we ask that they limit their movements within the building.

Building Preparations

• Sanitizer will be available in the most highly used areas.
• Group rooms and chairs will be wiped down with disinfectant wipes before and after each group.
• Operations staff will continue to thoroughly clean and sanitize all of our facilities.
  
• All facilities will be monitored for proper air flow.

Resources

• For the most up-to-date information on the Coronavirus, please visit the SC DHEC and CDC websites.
• If you feel sick, you can take advantage of MUSC Health Virtual Care Telehealth service at https://campaigns.muschealth.org/virtual-care/index.html.
• If you are unable to attend a community support meeting, below are some online meeting options:
• WEconnect and Unity Recovery are partnering together to offer digital All Recovery Meetings to anyone 4x/day at 9am, 12p, 3p, and 9pm.  Meetings will follow an open format and are available to anyone seeking recovery.  To join a meeting visit: unityrecovery.zoom.us/my/allrecovery
• Virtual NA Meetings - Click here for more information
• Virtual AA Meetings - Click here for more information

We are all in this together.  If you have any questions, concerns, or needs, please let us know by calling 864-467-3790.