August 28, 2020
Central Mass. nursing homes show improved coronavirus testing compliance
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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health headquarters in Boston
By Grant Welker
Nursing homes in Central Massachusetts have shown better compliance with state requirements that staff are regularly tested for coronavirus, and that testing results are reported to help gauge the spread of the pandemic.
Such facilities are required to test their staff for the virus, and forward results to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, typically every other week. Two weeks ago, the state said 26 nursing homes in Central Massachusetts didn't comply. In the latest testing phase that ended Aug. 20, 13 failed to comply, including nine previously out of compliance.
Those facilities, however, have steadfastly assured they're testing staff and reporting results to the state, and that they're taking seriously their role in caring for at-risk populations.
"I've followed all the protocols that have been put in place by the Commonwealth. It's just not OK that they're giving false information," said Lori Warner, the owner of Applewood Home for Elders in Athol. "Why would we not be doing it? I've been in business for over 35 years, and I follow protocol."
Sterling Village, one of four Central Massachusetts facilities previously shown as being in compliance, was among those citing issues with getting testing results back in a timely fashion.
"We do over 90% every single week," said Kim Archambault, the facility's executive director, citing the threshold the state requires for staff testing.
Representatives at other facilities, including Winter Hill Rest Home in Worcester, Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, and Caldwell Home and Penny Lane, two facilities in Fitchburg, also said they're testing staff as required. Helen Lemay, a supervisor at Village Rest Home in Leominster, said the facility hasn't had any positive cases among staff or patients. Brenda Turner, a manager at Lincoln Hill Manor in Spencer, said they've also had no positive results.
"We've been in compliance all along," Turner said.
In addition to Sterling Village, three others were shown as out of compliance for the first time: Bear Mountain at Sudbury, Webster Manor Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, and Worcester Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.
Bear Mountain has never been alerted that it was out of compliance, and hasn't had a positive test for months, administrator James Divver said.
"We submit ours regularly," he said of test results.
Representatives at the other two facilities couldn't be reached for comment.
Others are no longer on the list, including others who contested the state's argument they were out of compliance. That list includes the Life Care Center of Auburn, Lutheran Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center in Worcester, and Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Northbridge.
DPH didn't return a message seeking comment about facilities' denials about their compliance, or whether some aspect of the compliance program isn't accurately reflecting how facilities are testing and reporting as required.
Statewide, DPH says 352, or 82%, of 428 facilities complied with the testing order. Another 41 did not submit testing data, and 16 didn't reach the threshold of testing 90% of staff. The remaining 19 are in a weekly, not biweekly, reporting period.
The state is supporting test costs for facilities through September, at which point the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services will reassess the testing policy based on public health metrics.
Nursing homes and similar long-term care facilities have accounted for two-thirds of the 8,755 coronavirus deaths reported in the state, according to DPH.
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Anonymous
September 1, 2020
This is a story without any true investigating. It is easy to demonize nursing homes who are trying to care for these vulnerable elders entrusted to our care. The disconnect between the various authorities causes continual confusion and that's the story that isn't being told. Examples:
- Health & Human Services is giving point of care machines to nursing homes for rapid tests but in Massachusetts the Department of Public Health doesn't allow the use of these machines for our required testing.
- Massachusetts requires regular employee and resident COVID-19 testing but state surveyors performing inspections in the nursing homes are not required to be tested and could potentially be spreading COVID-19 as they conduct all their surveys
- Massachusetts requires employee weekly testing and now President Trump is saying to test every 3-7 days and applies different percentages to the requirement than Massachusetts
- If you're in a hospital, you can have a family visit but then when you move to the nursing home, you have to visit outdoors
- A newly admitted patient is on "quarantine" but they can have outdoor visits, so how is that a quarantine?
- The average nursing home has to report on all their testing to many different state and national sites every day and each uses different periods of time and criteria - local board of health, DPH, epidemiololgy, National Health Safety Network, Chapter 93 REDCap program and their facility website for families and residents
Nursing homes support the testing and understand its need in protecting our elders and most willingly comply but the duplicative, confusing, ever-changing and conflicting guidance is the story. The list of craziness that nursing homes has had to endure is the story no one is telling.
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