Hello, my name is Kelly Konikow and I'm
the manager of the VA Portland Health
Care System Fisher House located on the
Vancouver campus in Southwest Washington.
Thank you so much for being
our guest at the Fisher House.
We look forward to your stay.
There are some important things that you
need to know and do during your stay.
I will share this with you in the video
and again at your in person orientation.
There is also a reference guide in your
suite for you to review at your convenience.
First, let's look at our welcome guest guide.
That's in your suite.
It gives a history of the Fisher
House who is eligible and what
you can expect during your stay.
There are 12 helpful points, 1.
Fisher House services to useful information,
three house rules and guidelines
for emergency guidelines,
an infection control,
5 food area guide,
6 guest services 7 VA visitor information.
8 things to do in Vancouver,
WA or Portland OR 9 information
regarding Zachary Fisher.
10 facility information and Maps.
11 donations and kind words and
12 Fisher House phone directory.
Please pay close attention to
the emergency guidelines.
It gives you detailed emergency
information and new COVID-19
infection control directions.
When using the phone in your suite dial 9,
then your number.
If you have a number that has an extension,
you just dial those numbers without the nine,
the VA police phone number is 51911 and
emergencies outside the campus is 9911.
We have basic foods for you.
Cereal, milk, eggs, bread, lunch items,
etc.
These items are donated from
businesses and individuals and they
can be used to make your meals.
If you would like something special
or you're on a special diet,
you'll be responsible for those items.
Every suite is set up with a Britta
water pitcher and a Keurig coffee machine
with comfort items such as coffee, tea.
Apple cider, cocoa,
creamers, sugars and etc.
We have a housekeeper here seven days a week.
If you need waste
can liners additional towels
or replacement linens,
please ask the staff for these items.
The purpose of our housekeeper is to
keep the common areas clean and to
clean the rooms after you depart. Every
seven days they will do a courtesy
clean in an occupied guest suite.
Access to the house is by key card
that you will get during orientation.
You will be given a neck badge
to place your key card in.
You are expected to wear this
identification badge on VA property
to let the staff know that you're
a guest at the Fisher House.
The key card gives you access into the
main house as well as to your suite.
This badge will need to be
turned in when you check out.
Due to COVID-19
We have cut back office hours.
We have staff on site daily
from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
Check in time is prior to 3:00 PM.
Few exceptions will apply and
require the manager or assistant
managers approval for late arrivals.
Check out time is no later than 11:00 AM.
Exceptions may be approved by
the manager or assistant manager.
For emergencies after business hours,
contact the VA police at 51911.
For emergent medical needs, call 9911.
Rules for the Fisher House and for
federal property include no guns or
weapons are allowed on VA property.
No alcohol or smoking is
permitted on VA property.
No gambling, soliciting or selling
is allowed on VA property.
Currently due to covid restrictions,
no one under the age of 18
is allowed on VA property.
No strangers are allowed in the Fisher House.
This can be easily solved
by not answering the door.
Leave that to staff and after hours.
Only the VA police should
be letting anyone in.
Only one guest plus a veteran
is allowed due to COVID-19.
Exceptions can be made by the manager.
Currently due to covid restrictions,
no visitors are allowed in
the Fisher House at this time,
only the guest.
Please let the staff know as soon as
possible if you have special medical needs,
such as a refrigerated medication,
a sharps container for your syringes,
or an oxygen tank.
There is an additional document to
review and sign if you use oxygen.
Also a sign will be placed on your
door to alert staff and guests
in case of an emergency.
Quiet hours are from 9:00 PM to 9:00 AM.
Please be respectful of other
guests in the house.
Since COVID-19 we have created an
additional information document that
outlines the expectations for our guests.
With COVID-19, there have been
some changes required in order
to keep the Fisher House open.
Before you arrive we will contact you
to ask screening questions to make
sure you're safe to stay with us.
If any guest becomes ill,
they will need to check out of the Fisher
House immediately and are responsible
for their own transportation home.
Every guest must wear a mask
inside the Fisher House except for
when they are inside their suite.
Staff will also be doing a daily screening
of all guests to ensure good health.
Each suite is assigned a
table in the dining area.
We ask that you stay within that space and
follow all social distancing recommendations.
There is limited space in the kitchen,
so currently only one family is
allowed in the kitchen at a time.
We ask that you clean the kitchen areas used.
Wiping microwaves, faucets, handles,
stove counters and any spills.
There are two dishwashers to
use to sanitize all cookware.
The laundry room is also part of this
limited space as you must go through the
kitchen to get into the laundry room.
We ask that you please wipe
down the washer and dryer.
When you are done.
Are Fisher House has 16 guest suites.
However,
with current COVID-19 mandates we are
only allowed to use eight suites at
this time there are four on the 1st
floor and four on the second floor.
There is an elevator for guests to use.
Each of our guest suites are
uniquely designed.
No two are alike.
The suites vary from having an
individual Queen bed to two full
size beds to two twin size beds.
Each suite has a private bathroom.
and is ADA compliant.
In closing, we are honored
to have you as our guests.
Please reach out to our staff
for any questions during normal
business hours. Thank you.