620 Pandemic Pack Feature - v3 - FINAL - Reg4_Pages 6 / 10 / 20 5 : 40 PM Page 16 improvement is at the heart of good care , Protecting the Vulnerable especially for our most frail and vulnerable populations . We appreciate the report’s SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES TAKE ACTION AGAINST COVID - 19 . comprehensive view of the long - term Y PETER PROKO B care challenges both in New Jersey and nationwide and agree that ‘ you cannot All of this led New Jersey Attorney invent a system that works when a crisis IN THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE HEADLINES General Gurbir Grewal to open an inves - hits ; the system must already be in place , ’ ” much of the ASSOCIATED WITH COVID - 19 , tigation into possible misconduct at those says Cathy Bennett , president and CEO news centered around just how devas - facilities . That of the New Jersey Hospital Association . tating this infectious disease was for the came on the heels of Gov . “ We elderly population , especially those with Phil Murphy contracting consulting firm applaud Gov . Murphy and Commis - pre - existing conditions . And while the Manatt Health in early May to review the sioner Persichilli for their focus and com - coronavirus has certainly proven to be a state’s 575 long - term care facilities in an mitment to collaboration and commu - threat to people of all ages , a large por - effort to help reduce the impact of future nication as the work begins to reimagine tion — more than 40 percent — of the outbreaks . By early June , the firm had our long - term care system . We are com - reported deaths statewide have been outlined several recommendations to mitted to working together on the road those living in long - term care facilities . improve safety and protection for residents ahead to enact positive change for long - The overwhelming number of deaths and staff . term care residents and staff . ” linked to this population has fueled spec - Additionally , Judith Persichilli , the Symphony at Cherry Hill has imple - ulation about the state’s role and if it was state health commissioner , also signed mented several measures to protect both handled properly . For instance , New Jersey an executive order requiring all long - term residents and staff . In addition to putting mandated that long - term care facilities care facilities to implement widespread a heavy emphasis on cleaning protocols not deny residents after being hospitalized testing for all residents and staff to help and following local and Centers for Disease for COVID - 19 . The state’s health depart - mitigate the spread of the virus . Control guidelines , they have been closely ment sent out a letter that in part read , “ The coronavirus pandemic has laid monitoring essential staff as they enter “ No patient / resident shall be denied re - bare just how vulnerable the residents of and exit the community . Furthermore , admission or admission to the post - acute our long - term care facilities are . It has residents have their vital signs checked also laid bare that many of these facilities three times a day , according to Jim Ryan , are setting solely based on a confirmed c were devastatingly unprepared , without executive director . or suspected diagnosis of COVID - 19 . ” It the necessary resources , and too slow to And , to help ease any concerns that even went as far as to say that the facilities respond in the event of a crisis . In new families may have about sending could not test these individuals prior to Camden their loved one into a them entering the building . A similar County , more than 72 percent of all coro - senior living com - tactic was taken in New York , the hard - navirus - related deaths have occurred in munity during the pandemic , Ryan says est - hit state in the country . our long - term care facilities , ” Camden they have taken further precautions . “ We have processes in place to ensure resident and community safety , ” Ryan says . “ We have initiated a pre - move in testing protocol , as well as specific pre - cautions in the community which must be followed prior to and during the move in process . ” Similarly , United Methodist Commu - nities , with locations in Collingswood and Pitman , reacted quickly as the disease began to spread throughout the state by forming a special response team . Made up of organizational leadership from across the system , the dedicated unit worked to devise a plan that included daily screening of residents , transparent communication with families , elevated hygienic protocols , increased availability of PPE and many other added safety ele - ments . And in some cases , a few of the system’s associates moved into the com - The high number of cases aside , there County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli munities for an extended period so they were also stories and rumors of gross said in an early June press release . would always be available to care for negligence in some instances . Some work - Manatt Health’s recommendations residents . ers complained of a lack of proper safety that were outlined by the governor “ provide “ We have been proactive and nimble measures and personal protective equip - us with a roadmap to develop effective in our response to COVID - 19 . We were ment ( PPE ) , and in one instance an anony - reform and oversight of these facilities , ” quick to put measures in place to limit mous tip led police to discover 17 bodies Cappelli added . entry into our communities , which helped stacked up in a makeshift morgue at a “ This report provides an opportunity to limit the spread , and have adjusted facility in Sussex County . to learn and improve ; continuous quality measures depending on the situation . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 17 issue 3 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 38 |