Broadway Villa’s Empey did not respond to a reporter’s email and phone calls last week for information about the facility’s ongoing fight against the coronavirus. But in recent communication with relatives of residents at the nursing home, he described improvements.
On Thursday, Empey reported in a massive email to “family members” that state health officials visited the knowledgeable nursing center this morning and reviewed their infection control program.
“We received very high marks, and they were pleased to see the progress our residents and staff have made in repairing this recent outbreak,” said Empey, adding that Broadway Villa received approval to “return our facility. to give back to a normal management status by removing more of the residents from isolation areas. “
Empey also said the “red zone” section had two “graduates” among residents who no longer tested positive for COVID-19, “leaving only 7 residents there recovering now.”
While it appears that conditions improve or at least stabilize at some nursing homes that have been hit hard by the virus, the number of infections in others is increasing and deaths are still dying.
Another nursing home with virus-related mortality
Sonoma Post Acute, a knowledgeable nursing home in Sonoma, reported Monday to public health officials that at least one of its residents died from the coronavirus. At the time, Sonoma Post Acute reported that it had 23 residents affected by the virus. On Friday, the latest available data, it reported 26 infections.
Sonoma Post acute leaders did not respond to requests for an interview. Dan Kramer, president of KPA Strategies public relations firm and a spokesman for the nursing home, responded to a reporter’s questions with an email.
Kramer said in response to the pandemic, the facility has stepped up its efforts to control infection, following procedures set up by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare.
The nursing center restricts non-medically necessary visits, examines staff and residents for virus symptoms, and isolates residents who show symptoms.
“We are in regular communication with local and state health authorities,” Kramer said in the statement. “We will continue the guidance they have provided us for infection control to reduce risk to residents and staff.
Dodging transmission
The first case of COVID-19 in a Sonoma County nursing home was discovered in April, when tests by the county for public health surveillance led to early identification of two staff members who were infected at Apple Valley Post-Acute Rehab in Sebastopol. who still had to see symptoms.
Staff led by infection control nurse Kelly Phillips from the nursing home responded quickly by removing staff and isolating them at home. A battery of tests from all staff and residents was carried out quickly and followed up with more tests.
Phillips, a licensed professional nurse, said there has been constant communication with local public health officials. The results: None of the nursing home residents contracted the pandemic disease and no additional cases among staff have surfaced.
Phillips ensures that everyone in Apple Valley uses personal protective equipment properly and that personnel are ready to effectively isolate and quarantine and adhere to the strictest possible guidelines for public health at work and at home.
‘Everyone is just as well informed, so we’re all on the same page. It’s a complete facility, “she said.” What our staff do at home, it all affects what we do at work. “
State aid with infection control
Mase said staff members at local nursing homes have gained more knowledge through the pandemic that has led to improvements in infection on many sites. And she said the COVID-19 state’s strike team has all of the province’s experienced nursing homes and nursing homes currently experiencing major viral outbreaks.
State public health officials declined to give an interview to a Press Democrat reporter with members of the strike team for this story and would only answer questions via email.
State officials said in the statement that the team of infection control experts was deployed to Sonoma County Senior Care Institutions to assess operations, patient safety and infection control measures, and to provide guidance to staff to reduce any further spread.
“CDPH (California Department of Public Health) remains committed to supporting and supporting all reputable nursing homes in Sonoma County as they continue to manage, prevent or repair outbreaks,” according to the statement.
During her press release on Friday, Mase said one of the strike observers’ most important observations confirmed that it is difficult to spread the virus in nursing homes if three or four residents share a single room.
Still, as more residents recover from viral symptoms, she said further transmission of the virus seems to be diminishing at some nursing homes.
“There is now a group of recovering patients who have been and are recovering nicely through their period of infection,” Mase said. “That’s really positive.”
‘Do not think we’re still winning’
Chicotel, the California-based advocate for nursing home reform, acknowledged the diligence of infection control in nursing homes, but made clear that work has not yet reversed the statewide negative trends of more COVID-19 infections and deaths.
“The number of residents and deaths of nursing homes have been constant,” he said. “Every day we see twenty-something die. It has been fairly consistent, and dozens of new infections.
“I think it could have been worse, but from my perspective I do not think we will win yet,” Chicotel said. “I think most residents are still losing to COVID-19. … Infection control is really about good habits, and good habits are hard to develop in a short period of time. “
You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or [email protected]. On Twitter @pressreno.
