Investigates

11 Investigates: Still no answers from Pa. health secretary about nursing home concerns

PITTSBURGH — 11 Investigates still has not received any answers from the Pennsylvania Department of Health regarding concerns that nursing homes residents are being marginalized in the state’s fight against COVID-19.

Our investigation showed a stark difference at times between what the state has said publicly about making nursing homes a priority and what families and some nursing home owners experience privately. From difficulty getting tests and personal protective gear to a lack of transparency, there is growing frustration.

Response to COVID crisis

In the fight against COVID-19, a check of the states neighboring Pennsylvania showed more of a targeted focus on nursing homes.

  • West Virginia just announced it plans to test every single nursing home patient for COVID-19
  • Maryland established strike teams to help with testing and clinical care.
  • Virginia has set up a nursing home task force.
  • New York just opened a hotline for nursing home complaints to be investigated by the attorney general.
  • Ohio is ordering all nursing homes to report positive cases to families, residents, and staff within 24 hours, something Pennsylvania has yet to do.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania announced it has stopped regular inspections at long-term care facilities and is outsourcing oversight to a consultant company called the ECRI Institute.

Frustration growing

The owner of Paramount Senior Living was frustrated after the state advised him to presume all residents are positive in his Central Pennsylvania facility and just stop testing, after five people developed COVID-19.

“It is very irresponsible in my mind not to test,” said James Cox, Paramount’s owner. “The comment was made, let’s not waste supplies.”

Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County, the center of a major outbreak with more than 50 cases and at least three deaths, said it decided “in consultation with the State Department of Health” to no longer count or report positive tests.

That left family members angry at the lack of transparency.

"It feels like they're withholding information,” said Mathew Seevers, whose mother is a resident at Brighton. “That's my mother up there. There should be no secrets!"

Accountability

When we asked about the state’s guidance to Brighton at a public briefing earlier this month, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine would not comment.

“I’m not going to discuss a specific facility for privacy and confidentiality purposes,” Dr. Levine said on April 7.

Every day this week 11 Investigates has asked the State Health Department about concerns over a lack of testing at nursing homes, a shortage of personal protective gear, and frustrated family members who say it feels like their loved ones are being written off. While taking multiple questions, and often repeat questions from the same media outlets, not once did the Health Secretary answer one of our questions publicly. Instead, we received written responses from a PR person who side-stepped the issue and did not give a direct response

Friday, we once again asked these questions:

  • As the state calls for an increase in testing prior to re-opening businesses—at the same time, it is telling some long-term care facilities with 5 or more COVID cases to stop testing and presume everyone is positive, so they don’t waste supplies. Some family members of residents in these facilities say it is irresponsible not to test their loved ones. They feel these elderly residents are being written off and “discriminated against.” What is your response to them?
  • Nursing homes where there have been outbreaks are being told to stop testing and assume everyone is positive. Some facilities tell us there is not enough PPE to safely protect all residents and staff, if you assume everyone is positive. --How can this directive realistically be carried out, if a facility does not have enough personal protective equipment for everyone? And if you don’t change PPE between rooms when you are not certain someone is truly positive; doesn’t that pose a threat of infection to residents and staff who are actually negative?

Again, Dr. Levine chose not to answer our questions at her daily public briefing. We will keep asking.