Roseau County long-term care facilities have begun testing staff for Covid-19, based on a requirement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) that was effective September 2nd.
LifeCare Director of Quality and Risk Management, Kelly Hulst, RN says, “Roseau County long-term care facilities including Warroad Senior Living Center, LifeCare Roseau Manor and LifeCare Greenbush Manor all support CMS’s goal of reducing the spread of Covid-19 within long-term care facilities, by quickly detecting cases and stopping the transmission as soon as practically possible.”
“Testing is based on the extent of the virus in each county. Therefore, CMS will provide data to local long-term care facilities regarding positivity rates to determine the frequency of testing staff for Covid-19,” says Hulst.
As a result of this new CMS requirement, a small number of asymptomatic employees tested positive within the LifeCare Greenbush campus. Based on contact tracing, LifeCare reports all positive staff had used appropriate personal protective equipment and followed Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines, while caring for residents.
“Because staff and residents of long-term care facilities are priority groups for Covid-19 testing in Minnesota and across the nation, LifeCare will continue to work with long-term care staff as we follow guidelines based on the CMS requirement. This effort is a critical component of the LifeCare’s infection prevention and control actions,” says Shannon Carlson, Chief Operating Officer at LifeCare Medical Center. “As we focus on the safety of staff and residents of long-term care facilities, we work hard to keep all citizens informed and updated on safety measures to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19 throughout Roseau County.”
LifeCare Public Health wants to remind everyone in our region that with the positive cases of the virus growing in Roseau County, it continues to be important to maintain six feet of physical distances from others, WEAR A MASK if you go out in public, continue to wash your hands, cover your cough, and stay home if you are sick. If you have Covid like symptoms, call LifeCare Medical Center at 218.463.2500, to get tested.
Last modified: 09/10/2020
