State closes Portland nursing home after 28 COVID-19 deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — State officials are ordering a Portland nursing home with the largest and most fatal coronavirus outbreak in Oregon to close.
The move comes after Department of Human Services officials found that Healthcare at Foster Creek “demonstrated a consistent inability to adhere to basic infection control standards,” The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
The nursing homes “continued operation poses a serious danger to the public health and safety,” the agency said in a letter signed Monday. Officials said Tuesday in a statement that the department ordered an emergency suspension of the facility’s license.
“We have worked on multiple strategies to contain the COVID-19 outbreak at Healthcare at Foster Creek and have concluded that moving all residents is mandatory at this stage,” said Mike McCormick, interim director of the department’s Office of Aging and People with Disabilities, which licenses long-term care facilities.
About 117 residents and staff at Foster Creek have fallen ill with the coronavirus and at least 28 residents have died as of Tuesday, according to state data. The facility didn’t immediately respond to a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment.
In mid-April, Department of Human Services’ inspectors found staff violating protocols necessary to contain infections. At that time, the department created a lengthy list of requirements for the nursing home to improve practices and evacuated 20 people to local hospitals.
The department will evacuate the few remaining residents, officials said. A suspension means the nursing home could be allowed to reopen at a later time.
News release from the Oregon Department of Human Services:
DHS suspends Healthcare at Foster Creek license, relocates residents
Salem, OR -- The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) today issued an emergency suspension of Healthcare at Foster Creek’s state license to operate a nursing facility and is seeking alternative care providers for its residents due to ongoing concerns about inadequate infection control to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
To date, 117 cases of COVID-19 and 28 deaths have been associated with the outbreak at Healthcare at Foster Creek, which is located in Portland, according to a May 5 report from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
DHS and other state agency actions prior to the emergency suspension have included, but are not limited to:
- Implementation of a March 24 DHS executive order outlining required infection control measures, which was updated on April 11.
- Issuance of a DHS license condition on the facility on April 15, which was updated on April 29.
- Assistance with personal protective equipment to staff to aid in infection control, and funding for additional staffing.
- Securing a management consultant to assist with operations at the facility.
- Dedicating two DHS registered nurse surveyors to monitor and provide guidance to the facility on site.
- Assistance with moving residents to alternate care sites as needed to address care needs and help curb the spread of COVID-19.
“We have worked on multiple strategies to contain the COVID-19 outbreak at Healthcare at Foster Creek and have concluded that moving all residents is mandatory at this stage,” said Mike McCormick, interim director of the DHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities, which licenses long-term care facilities. “Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by COVID-19 at this facility and our focus now is on providing a smooth transition for residents and their families.”
The state’s multi-agency support team assesses the needs of long-term care facilities experiencing increased COVID-19 cases, to help them access resources such as staffing and personal protective equipment. The team includes DHS, OHA, and local public health authorities.
Resources:
A copy of the DHS order of emergency suspension on Healthcare at Foster Creek is attached with this news release.
For a lists of state-licensed long-term care facilities reporting COVID-19 cases or tests pending on suspected cases visit: https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/COVID- 19/Pages/LTC-Facilities.aspx.
For an update on COVID-19 cases at long-term care facilities see the weekly report under “additional data” at this OHA website: https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19
