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| Habersham
Home West |
Editor’s
Note: The following press release was issued by Habersham Medical
Center Wednesday in response to a report from the Department of
Community Health showing that 47 of its 62 nursing home residents have
tested positive for COVID-19. Ten Habersham Home residents have died.
Habersham
Home is the licensed, 84-bed skilled nursing facility operated by
Habersham Medical Center (HMC). The facility has two locations on HMC’s
campus. Habersham Home East is located inside of the hospital, and
Habersham Home West is located in a separate building adjacent to the
hospital.
As
concerns began escalating about the coronavirus pandemic in early
March, HMC was one of the first hospitals in Georgia to make swift and
decisive decisions to safeguard Habersham Home residents and staff.
Through
intense education, screening, monitoring, and infection prevention
management, the hospital enacted a series of aggressive measures to
limit exposure and transmission of COIVD-19. One of the first policies
implemented was a “No Visitors” stance, meaning no outside visitors were
permitted on campus to visit patients in the hospital or residents of
the nursing home. This stance is still in place until further notice.
Additionally,
and in adherence to guidance provided by the American Health Care
Association (AHCA), the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Habersham Home began and continues
to screen employees, healthcare providers, vendors, consultants,
contractors and others who provide care and services to Habersham Home
residents.
Before
HMC confirmed its first COVID-19 positive case at Habersham Home,
hospital leadership enlisted the National Guard in mid-April to sanitize
and disinfect Habersham Home. This is a service the National Guard has
offered to over 200 nursing homes in Georgia.
Despite
every effort and safeguard put in place, transmissions of the virus
began impacting both residents and staff of Habersham Home. Unlike the
majority of long term care facilities in Georgia and across the country,
as the number of COVID-19 positive cases began escalating, Habersham
Medical Center took an aggressively, proactive approach to test every
resident and staff member of Habersham Home regardless of symptoms.
Habersham Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in the state to
take this approach which yields a more accurate impact of COVID-19 and
provides an exact number of how many people are actually affected.
HMC
enlisted the National Guard to facilitate the testing that was
conducted on May 13, 2020. 151 tests were administered. The test results
were analyzed by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the
results concluded that 47 of the 62 residents at Habersham Home tested
positive for COVID-19.
More
than 50% of the residents were asymptomatic at the time of the testing,
meaning they did not show any symptoms of illness. Family members were
notified immediately.
Throughout
HMC’s response to COVID-19, ten residents who were COVID-19 positive
have passed away. While these residents were positive, their deaths
cannot be directly attributed to the Coronavirus as several were
receiving hospice care. It is important to emphasize that,
statistically, the Habersham Home death rate is relatively flat despite
the continued threats associated with the Coronavirus.
As
a part of the National Guard’s testing efforts, 41 of 89 Habersham Home
employees tested positive for COVID-19. Again, over 50% of the
employees were asymptomatic. According to guidelines provided by the
Georgia Department of Public Health, these employees will quarantine at
home for 10 days.
 |
National Guard members disinfect a
public area
at a nursing home in
Southwest Georgia. (photo courtesy
Georgia Army
National Guard) |
Following
the testing conducted by the National Guard, HMC has been working
closely with the DPH and, together, have developed a comprehensive
response plan which has three key components related to staffing,
facility sanitization, and testing.
To
ensure Habersham Home is equipped to provide exceptional quality
healthcare with the federally mandated staff-to-resident ratio, HMC will
access and utilize state provided staffing resources. HMC is also
redeploying clinical staff from the hospital to cover shifts at
Habersham Home as needed.
Hospital leadership has also reengaged the
National Guard to conduct widespread sanitizing and disinfecting of both
Habersham Home East and West. HMC will continue to aggressively and
frequently test all residents and staff.
“As
the world continues to grapple with the Coronavirus Pandemic, the
elderly will continue to be a vulnerable population to this extremely
contagious disease,” says Tyler Williams, Habersham Medical Center’s
incoming Chief Executive Officer. “However, protecting our residents’
health and safety is our top priority and we will take every possible
measure to minimize any potential exposure to the virus.”
“While
universal testing of all residents and staff is not being conducted at
all long-term care facilities, HMC leadership stands behind this method
as it is the most effective known strategy to use to determine the true
impact of COVID-19. Having this data will guide the hospital’s response
to the COVID-19 crisis,” says Williams.
Full Article & Source:
Habersham Medical Center responds to DCH nursing home report
