Hamilton’s St. Joseph’s Villa and Grace Villa hit with infection control orders
Two more Hamilton seniors' homes with large outbreaks of COVID-19 have had public health orders issued in an attempt to control the rapid spread of the virus.
Five homes that together have 257 COVID cases as of Tuesday have had infection control orders issued including Chartwell Willowgrove in Ancaster on Nov. 17, Hamilton Continuing Care at 125 Wentworth St. S. on Nov. 21, Baywoods Place at 330 Main St. E. on Nov 23 and now St. Joseph's Villa in Dundas on Nov. 27 and Grace Villa at 45 Lockton Cres. on Nov. 28.
It's unfortunate when we do have to get to that point," said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton's medical officer of health. They are still thinking influenza and unfortunately the level of care that needs to be taken for COVID-19 is greater than that so they are needing to step it up."
Grace Villa on the east Mountain has been ordered to allow staff from Hamilton Health Sciences to monitor, investigate and respond to the long-term-care home's outbreak that has seen 38 residents and six staff infected since it was declared Nov. 25. An 84-year-old woman with COVID died in the outbreak Nov. 28.
St. Joseph's Villa, which is part of the same health system that includes St. Joseph's Healthcare, was found to have numerous breaches in infection, prevention and control during a site visit Nov 27.
The home has had two outbreaks in November with one still ongoing in the South Tower where 18 residents and nine staff are infected. The other in the Birch Unit-North Tower saw 22 residents, 16 staff and a visitor test positive before it was declared over Nov. 26. Two seniors have died in the outbreaks.
Things aren't necessarily getting all the way to the front line ... about how important it is that they follow the infection prevention and control measures in order to keep themselves well and to prevent there from being spread to others," said Richardson. When we do have to go to an order it's to reinforce those messages and really make sure it's really well understood in terms of what's needed."
The breaches found at St. Joseph's Villa include inadequate staff training on the use and reprocessing of personal protective equipment (PPE); inadequate hand hygiene practices, education and auditing and an inadequate plan for enhanced environmental cleaning including training for staff on the correct use of disinfectant, dilution and contact time.
Inadequate control measures as a part of a comprehensive outbreak management plan has been implemented to control and limit the spread of COVID-19," states the order issued by Dr. Ninh Tran, an associate medical officer of health.
St. Joseph's has been ordered to immediately implement active screening of all staff, essential visitors and anyone else entering" except for emergency first responders and maintain a list of who has been to the facility.
Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 should not be allowed to enter the facility and should go home immediately to self-isolate," states the order.
Residents also must be screened twice a day by trained staff and documented.
The operator has to provide and maintain" a minimum seven-day supply of PPE including masks, eye protection, gloves and gowns. It must train staff on how to use it and make sure it's available to them.
Ensure all staff continuously wear surgical masks for all resident/staff contacts," states the order.
Staff need to be trained on hand-hygiene protocols and there has to be a process for auditing compliance.
The operator must develop an improved written staffing contingency plan to be used in the event of staff shortages due to illness or work refusal," states the order. Such staffing plan should include sufficient staff to permit routine daily operation of the facility, and the provision of outbreak control measures."
St. Joseph's has been ordered to improve its written facility plan to include isolating and/or cohorting ill residents to limit their physical interactions with other residents and staff" and a cancellation of all group activities.
It must ensure timely communication" with family physicians when residents deteriorate and regular communication with families.
There also needs to be an improved plan for enhanced environmental cleaning including necessary staffing, use of appropriate cleaning and hospital-grade disinfection products and cleaning schedules with attention to commonly touched or handled surfaces.
The operator must provide and maintain an adequate supply of appropriate cleaning and hospital-grade disinfection products in the facility at all times," states the order.
Richardson said Monday that the homes are complying.
Since those orders have been put in place we do definitely see places taking them very seriously when they get them," said Richardson. It really causes them to take a second look at what they're doing and we've seen very significant improvements."
Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com