{"id":24097,"date":"2020-04-27T15:30:47","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T22:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=24097"},"modified":"2020-04-27T15:30:47","modified_gmt":"2020-04-27T22:30:47","slug":"enhancing-covid-19-protections-for-skilled-nursing-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=24097","title":{"rendered":"Enhancing COVID-19 Protections for Skilled Nursing Homes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles, CA, April 27, 2020 – Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is calling for comprehensive measures that would strengthen protections for skilled nursing home residents and staff, who tend to be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. The Board of Supervisors is set to vote on his motion<\/a>\u00a0tomorrow, April 28.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has found\u00a0312 institutional settings throughout the county with at least one confirmed case. As of April 27, 425 residents of institutional settings, such as skilled nursing homes, in LA County have died of COVID-19. They account for about 45 percent of LA County\u2019s death toll from the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot underestimate the risk that COVID-19 poses to skilled nursing home residents, given their age, physical condition and health status,\u201d Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. \u201cWe must also take comprehensive precautions to protect the heroic caregivers who work in these settings and then go home to their families. It is critical that we take comprehensive steps \u2013 in partnership with the State \u2013 to prevent the spread of infection and avoid a surge of patients that could easily overwhelm our healthcare system.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNursing home residents are among our most vulnerable, and we must take every step to protect their health and safety, and the health of the dedicated providers who are caring for them during this pandemic,\u201d LA County Department of Health Services director Christina Ghaly, MD, said.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s critically important that we support these institutions and ensure they are staffed, resourced and equipped to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection and able to conduct the necessary testing to protect those under their care.\u00a0 Without such measures in place, the potential for outbreaks that can overwhelm the County health system remains high.\u00a0 During this period marked by so much uncertainty, we are firm in our commitment to assist our health partners across the continuum of care as we all work together to confront and battle this terrible illness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe share Supervisor Ridley-Thomas\u2019 concern for this vulnerable population, which is being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,\u201d said LA County Department of Public Health director Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd. \u201cWe appreciate the Board\u2019s efforts to put measures in place ensuring that essential staff at skilled nursing facilities are properly trained and equipped with the protective equipment they need to remain safe, and support residents who are in great need of continued care. Public Health is working with our agency partners at the state and federal levels to enhance COVID-19 responses within LA County\u2019s skilled nursing facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas\u2019 motion called for working with Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health to consider several orders, guidelines and requirements to support the safe and sustained operation of skilled nursing facilities, including:<\/p>\n