Responding to a request by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the University of Massachusetts Medical Center to become the first nursing home in the state totally dedicated to residents recovering from COVID-19, one facility set up the moving process to begin on March 28. The facility plans to have all residents currently in the facility re-settled into other nursing homes owned by the facility’s owners.
The chief executive of the facility posted a statement on Facebook about the decision to convert the facility to care exclusively for COVID-19 residents. He said, “This, personally, has been a very, very difficult decision, and I have been anguishing over it for a few days now because I know the amount of disruption that this is going to cause for our residents and their families who trusted us to take care of their loved ones.” He also said, “I sincerely apologize to anyone who is impacted by this … but for the greater good of all the seniors in Massachusetts, not just the ones in our system, we need to do what’s right for the common good. We are trying to save lives, and we are trying to do it in the best way possible where we’re limiting the risk for your loved ones.”
The chief executive said he believes making this change will prevent infected residents from being introduced into nursing homes and putting those seniors at risk of COVID-19.
Compliance Perspective
Admitting residents infected with COVID-19 increases the risk for elderly nursing home residents in the facility who are considered the most vulnerable population, especially those with underlying physical conditions. It may be considered placing them in immediate jeopardy due to their increased risk of contracting the virus, and considered provision of substandard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points
- Review the policies and procedures regarding the state and federal guidelines for nursing homes to use to protect their residents and staff members from COVID-19, including isolation of infected residents and their care-giving staff from other non-infected residents when required by state and federal authorities to admit persons infected with/recovering from COVID-19.
- Train staff members about the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and how to properly wear it, remove it, dispose of it, and the importance of preventing the spread of COVID-19 to all residents and staff members.
- Periodically audit to ensure that the Infection Control Program is being effectively implemented and that infected residents and their care givers are isolated from non-infected residents.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC: COVID-19 FACILITY PREPAREDNESS SELF-ASSESSMENT and HAND HYGIENE GUIDELINES FOR HEALTHCARE SETTINGS
