News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Inconsistencies between new state guidelines and federal mandates will keep one local long term care facility closed.
Overton County Health and Rehab has already been conducting scheduled visits outside. PIO Scott Stevens said weekly testing must be available before inside access can even be considered.
“First of all you have to have one round of testing for the entire facility,” Stevens said. “The Tennessee Department of Health has not even completed the first round of testing for all the nursing homes in the state. Second, July 1 is when it’s mandated that you have to do weekly testing. So you can’t get weekly testing yet.”
The state said facilities could expand access beginning Monday. But Stevens said many in the industry believe the state is moving too fast. He said it would have been less confusing for the public and less stressful for administrators if the Governor had waited.
“Here’s the thing, Tennessee is still in Phase 2,” Stevens said. “So this visitation part from CNS (the federal agencies that guide us) and Medicaid Services doesn’t even suggest doing any of this until Phase 3. Tennessee is kinda getting a little ahead here.”
The Overton County Health and Rehab facility will continue screening staff, maintain indoor access to employees only, and restricting visits to outdoors only.
“We ask that our staff when they’re away from the building, they make good decisions as well,” Stevens said. “We all know that’s probably how you might get it in your building if the staff [is] bringing it in. The residents aren’t going anywhere to catch it, so somebody would bring it into the building. So we’re going to continue with our safe practices as they are.”
Another Upper Cumberland long-term facility manager said state officials sent multiple emails Thursday with updates and revisions to the plan, creating more questions.
Stevens said staff, residents, families and leadership want long-term care facilities reopened as quickly as possible.
“We just want to get back to normal and let everybody come in and visit,” Stevens said. “And hopefully be done with this pretty soon.”
