Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Where Are the Other 52 Nursing Homes with Outbreaks?

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by

James A. Bacon
in ,

by Carol J. Bova

The governor’s Long Term Care Facility Task Force list shows 179 nursing home and assisted living facilities with outbreaks of COVID-19. There are 52 more, according to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Outbreaks tab on the daily COVID-19 data, but no explanation why they’re missing from the Task Force list.

It took a little digging to narrow down where those facilities are located. The Task Force list can’t be downloaded or copied or sorted. But by adding its info to the CMS nursing home COVID-19 dataset and tagging each entry with the locality the Task Force used, I could compare the faciliity locations to the VDH Outbreaks Data Downloads and compile a list breaking down the number of missing outbreaks by Health District.

Alexandria – 4
Arlington – 3
Central Shenandoah – 3
Chesapeake – 1
Chesterfield – 2
Chickahominy – 2
Crater – 2
Eastern Shore – 2
Fairfax – 14
Henrico – 3
Lord Fairfax – 3
Loudoun – 2
Prince William – 2
Rappahannock – 2
Rappahannock Rapidan – 1
Richmond City – 4
Southside – 1
Thomas Jefferson – 1

Now that the Task Force can see where facility data is missing, maybe staff will plug it in where it belongs. Without knowing exactly which nursing homes and assisted living facilities are affected, however, identifying problems and their solutions is a guessing game. Staff members and vulnerable LTCF residents deserve better.

Carol J. Bova is a writer who lives in Mathews County.

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9 responses to “Where Are the Other 52 Nursing Homes with Outbreaks?”

  1. TBill Avatar
    TBill

    I noticed the new SunRise near me was missing as far as I can see. I would like to see all of the data. I might be able to name a few others I do not see yet.

  2. Nancy_Naive Avatar
    Nancy_Naive

    Or just determine what corporation owns homes in those areas. Sentara?

  3. cjbova Avatar
    cjbova

    Can’t just guess at these. Too many corporate owners and we don’t know if the missing ones are nursing homes or assisted living.

  4. James Wyatt Whitehead V Avatar
    James Wyatt Whitehead V

    My best pal Mr. Al Gore, hero of Iwo Jima/Okinawa and Nascar Hall of Famer is at the Blue Ridge Christian Nursing Home in Bealeton VA. Top shelf care by a tireless staff. Zero infections. They have that place buttoned down like Fort Knox. I smuggled in a WW 2 vintage pinup of Lana Turner for Mr. Gore’s room (in the closet). He told me over the telephone that will inspire him to make his 102nd birthday on September 17.

    1. cjbova Avatar
      cjbova

      I hope he does! It’s so good to hear of the places that do the right things and prove it is possible.

    2. Nancy_Naive Avatar
      Nancy_Naive

      “Yes, I know it’s dead, but I’m gonna beat it anyway.”

      Plus, that way you don’t need to look at what you’ve currently hitched to the wagon.

  5. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    Pretty sure we have more LTCF with infections in the Fredericksburg area than shown.

  6. cjbova Avatar
    cjbova

    I sent the link here to a member of the Task Force and received a response that says the Long Term Care Facilities Outbreaks includes group homes and residential behavioral health programs, and the Task Force list doesn’t, and they would “work with our epidemiology team to ensure additional definitions are provided.”

    That makes no sense because group homes and residential behavioral health facilities should be under congregate settings, or possibly healthcare settings.

    I did reply and pointed out assisted living facilities as defined by the Department of Social Services at https://aspe.hhs.gov/system/files/pdf/110631/15alcom-VA.pdf excludes “facilities licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services… “ which would include behavioral health facilities.

  7. Nancy_Naive Avatar
    Nancy_Naive

    Errata: severe threading error.

    “Yes, I know it’s dead, but I’m gonna beat it anyway.”

    Plus, that way you don’t need to look at what you’ve currently hitched to the wagon.

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