As of May 8, the Key West nursing home on College Road, officially named the Key West Health & Rehabilitation (KWHR), had no cases or symptoms of COVID-19 in any of its 100 or so residents nor any staff members, according to a report from facility administrator Brian Brinkerhoff.
Brinkerhoff submitted the report to the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District Board for its May 11 virtual meeting. The hospital district board did not publish the virtual meeting access information for the public on its website or on the meeting agenda.
The agenda packet included a Brinkerhoff’s report, which states, “As of May 8, no persons have presented symptoms consistent with COVID-19 in the facility. There are no residents with signs or symptoms of COVID-19. No staff with signs or symptoms….We have admitted nine residents from Lower Keys Medical Center, who all have tested negative for COVID-19 prior to admission. The facility has not had any staff members show signs or symptoms; nor has any staff member required testing.”
A no-visitation policy remains in effect, “but staff is always willing to arrange FaceTime/Skype visits with residents and their families,” the report states.
Brinkerhoff also reports that the long-term care facility has established new admission protocols in which any person being newly admitted to the center, “regardless of negative COVID-19 tests” are admitted via a new admission ward and are isolated for 14 days before being introduced to the rest of the facility’s residents. The new admission ward has a separate entrance and exit, as well as designated linens, crash carts, “and the same staff members are caring for the residents admitted to this ward as much as possible,” Brinkerhoff’s report states. “The residents in that ward receive therapy services from therapists dedicated to that ward.”
Finally, screening policies are in place in accordance with CDC guidelines for employees prior to each shift, and a tracking system is in place for any employee who calls out sick to ensure there is no risk to residents or staff members, Brinkerhoff writes.
“The facility has a supply of PPEs and has hired a seamstress to make washable isolation gowns (which is the one area of potential shortage). The material for these gowns was approved by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) prior to making the gowns. At this time, the facility has 35 washable gowns.”
Group activities have been halted since March 11, but residents and staff continue to participate in socially distant activities from their rooms, including Bingo, Music and Happy Hours.
