As the seriousness of the COIVD-19 pandemic was becoming increasing apparent in March, a flood of questions were arriving from the MMI community about the institute’s response and about resources available.
In response, MMI digital media manager Nikki Hackendahl, following a request from MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., created the MMI Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources page.
The page offers information both in English and Spanish for patients, families and other members of the MMI community.
“We created this webpage to reassure families of the many ways MMI is committed to their health and safety,” Hackendahl said. “With the rapidly changing national landscape, UNMC/Nebraska Medicine, national agencies and community partners started sharing COVID-19 resources. New information was arriving constantly, and sharing it with our internal and external audiences in real-time wasn’t feasible, but we knew families could benefit.”
The web page is an attempt to get useful information in front of those who need it. Content is added and updated daily.
“We focus on resources developed by organizations that provide care and support for individuals within the intellectual and developmental disability community, but resources for those outside this group also are included,” Hackendahl said.
Another page, MMI Actions in Response to COVID-19, details steps MMI is taking in response to the virus, such as implementing a COVID-19 screening interview for all patients and visitors and establishing additional check-in kiosks to manage patient flow.
New web resources also include a page on MMI service provision during COVID-19, which outlines how different areas of the institute now are providing care.
“The Munroe-Meyer Institute is committed to getting important information in front of our MMI families and the wider community,” Welsh said. “These new informational pages can be a valuable resource to those we serve.”