This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
05/26/2020 12:00 AMA state survey of infection control and preventative measures against spread of COVID-19 revealed oversights at Aaron Manor, a 60-bed nursing and rehabilitation center at 3 South Wig Hill Road in Chester.
A recently released report from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) details the findings, which include failing to clean certain high touch surfaces regularly and ensuring that housekeeping personnel use gloves and protective gear appropriately to prevent cross contamination.
The April 26 report, which was posted to the DPH repository of public reports on its e-license site, reveals a nursing assistant touching a kiosk screen after handling a meal cart from a COVID-19 unit.
It was also observed that a member of the housekeeping staff, although wearing gloves, touched items from an infected patients’ room and then touched a door handle without removing those gloves or cleaning his or her hands.
Other housekeeping members shook dirty laundry from a COVID-19 unit out from a bag into a washing machine without using personal protective equipment. Also, there wasn’t a designated clean space to sort and fold laundered items.
These findings are posted publicly online to the DPH’s e-license site as visitation to Connecticut nursing homes have been banned during the pandemic.
Andrea Obston, a representative for Stratford-based Ryders Health Management group, of which Aaron Manor is a part, says that the findings in the April 26 report have been addressed with additional training provided to all staff.
“There is no greater priority for us than the health and safety of our residents and staff. We understand this is a difficult time for our patients and their families, and we want them to know that we are doing everything in our control to provide a safe environment. We also want to thank our many staff for their unwavering commitment to the health of all our residents,” said a written statement from the group provided by Obston.
The statement from Ryders Health Management group also indicated that a subsequent state survey on May 6, which the group said was conducted with Connecticut National Guard members, “found Aaron Manor to be in full compliance with infection control practices and personal protective equipment.”
A report from the state’s May 6 visit was not posted publicly to the DPH’s e-license site, however, DPH representative Av Harris confirmed that there were no lapses in infection control noted during this visit. A survey of the facility on May 20 is now being reviewed.
Nursing homes have been the subject of scrutiny since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Connecticut, as the elderly and individuals with underlying health conditions are most susceptible to serious complications from the virus.
In mid-April, Governor Ned Lamont announced that the state would be making on-site visits to all 213 nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Connecticut.
The DPH’s Healthcare Quality and Safety Branch staff conduct the infection control surveys. Connecticut National Guard Members supplement these staffing levels.
The April 26 report on Aaron Manor was one of several reports that had found deficiencies in infection control in the state’s nursing homes. On May 20, DPH posted similar findings of deficiency in 20 additional nursing homes.
Aaron Manor, and other nursing homes with findings of deficiency, must come up with a plan of corrective action approved by DPH. Once those plans are approved, the findings are posted online.
As of press time, 29 of the residents at Aaron Manor had tested positive for COVID-19. Ten residents have died of the virus.