Name: Bryan and Chatham nursing homes see COVID-19 flare-ups
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Bryan and Chatham nursing homes see COVID-19 flare-ups

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Mary Landersmlanders@savannahnow.comView CommentsTwo Savannah area nursing homes have reported sharp increases in the number of residents testing positive for COVID-19.At Signature HealthCARE of Savannah on E. 63rd Street, eight of 108 residents tested positive, according to a April 28 report issued by the Georgia Department of Community Health. In addition, two administrative workers at the facility tested positive by Tuesday afternoon, according to Ann Bowdan Wilder, communications manager for Signature HealthCARE. A report on April 22 listed no positives among residents or workers at the facility. There have been no deaths from COVID-19 there.At the Bryan County Health and Rehabilitation Center on Carter Street in Richmond Hill, 14 of 79 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Its previous report listed one worker as positive.Across the state, workers and residents of long term care facilities account for about 20% of the positive test results for the novel coronavirus and more than 40% of the deaths related to COVID-19.With 14 of 52 cases in Bryan at a long term care facility, that rate is about 26%. With 10 cases at Signature and another four total cases at three other Savannah nursing homes -- one staffer at Abercorn Rehabilitation Center, one resident at Pruitthealth Savannah on White Bluff and two workers at Spanish Oaks Retreat on Whitefield -- Chatham has about 6% of all positives associated with long term care.No deaths from the virus have been reported at any long term care facility in Chatham, Effingham or Bryan counties as of Thursday April 30.Bryan County Health and Rehab CenterOperations Manager Terry Cook said several residents were tested at area hospitals after exhibiting symptoms. But comprehensive testing of all residents on April 20 revealed another ten residents who were asymptomatic but positive, including two from the Alzheimer’s unit.The facility has created a COVID unit by walling off an area with plastic sheeting. Residents there are monitored for respiratory distress and fever. Staff wears full protective gear. Patients who are not infected wear masks when out of their rooms.Cook said his home has followed COVID-19 guidelines from local and state health officials as well as the CDC and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare.Additional measure include the purchase of a ultraviolet lighting disinfectant machine to sanitize surfaces in the home, contracting with an operating room cleaning service, and weekly sanitizing by the National Guard.He’s been frustrated by the lack of testing supplies.“Comprehensive testing is the only way that I can identify the sick, to protect and take care of them and to identify the well,” he said. “I've got to be able to do that to be able to manage this virus in the nursing home.”But he’s been impressed by staff.“I am inspired by the love that my wonderful staff have for the people we’re privileged to serve, said Cook, whose mother owns this and three other long term care facilities he and his sister help operate and manage. ”Even though they’re all wearing masks, that love and caring shows through.“Signature HealthCAREAt Signature HealthCARE of Savannah all the residents and staff were tested on Wednesday, April 22, through a collaboration with the National Guard and the Chatham County Health Department, Wilder wrote in an e-mail.“We take this course of action because it is important to be able to identify how many positive cases are on hand, especially since in many instances, those who are positive are asymptomatic,” wrote Wilder from the company’s headquarters in Louisville, KY. “Such information gathered by facility-wide testing assists in developing an aggressive and appropriate plan for treatment, virus containment and further prevention of the spreading of the virus to those residents who test negative.”Signature HealthCARE transferred its positive residents to its COVID-19 only unit, isolated with “barrier systems” from the rest of the facility, with separate supplies, food, its own entrance, and dedicated staff who work on the COVID unit only.Residents who need more advanced care, such as a ventilator, are transferred to the hospital, she said.Staff who have tested positive will not return to work without special and verified medical clearance.“Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided and worn per CDC guidelines. Signature also has a consulting Infectious Disease physician and Infectious Disease nurse on board, who have been providing guidance on this transition and who will be monitoring its implementation and operations.”Wilder said the facility’s management strove to communicate with its residents, their families, and staff members.“The responsible party or guardian of our residents was called personally, and those affected the most by the unit, were the first to know about this decision,”she wrote. “Sometimes there are accusations of family members not being notified. Under the policy of Signature HealthCARE, and in accordance to federal law, the responsible party or guardian of the resident is notified, briefed and counseled.”Editor’s note: This article was updated April 30 to add the statewide statistics regarding coronavirus infections in long term care facilities.View Comments

Mary Landersmlanders@savannahnow.comView CommentsTwo Savannah area nursing homes have reported sharp increases in the number of residents testing positive for COVID-19.At Signature HealthCARE of Savannah on E. 63rd Street, eight of 108 residents tested positive, according to a April 28 report issued by the Georgia Department of Community Health. In addition, two administrative workers at the facility tested positive by Tuesday afternoon, according to Ann Bowdan Wilder, communications manager for Signature HealthCARE. A report on April 22 listed no positives among residents or workers at the...

Bryan and Chatham nursing homes see COVID-19 flare-ups

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