Indiana is clearing the way for dedicated coronavirus units in nursing homes, even if local authorities object.
A State Department of Health order authorizes shuffling patients within facilities or into new ones to keep those who have the virus separate from those who don’t. The state isn’t requiring nursing homes to create COVID-19 units, but the order invalidates any local attempts to block it as Daviess County did earlier this month after an attempt by a nursing home operator to concentrate coronavirus patients at a facility in Washington.
State Health commissioner Kristina Box says the close quarters in long-term care, and the underlying health conditions residents often have, make it easy for the virus to spread once it gets started. She says being able to create coronavirus-only units cuts off the virus’s opportunities to infect more people, and suggests it may have benefits apart from the virus
Box said she fully believes the move is a necessary step to protect vulnerable residents in all of Indiana’s 92 counties.
The Indiana Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes, said in a statement that the state should help identify alternative treatment locations for COVID-19 patients and make sure long-term care workers have adequate protection supplies.
Official news release from the state health department:
STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER ISSUES ORDER
AUTHORIZING TRANSFERS OF LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, today authorized long-term care facilities to transfer, discharge, transport or relocate residents in order to reduce the risks of COVID-19 to this vulnerable population. All moves would be done in collaboration with the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH).
Dr. Box’s order, which includes transfers within a facility, between facilities and those occurring across city or county boundaries, will remain in effect for the duration of the public health emergency declared by Governor Eric J. Holcomb. It supersedes any orders issued at the local level as allowed under Indiana law.
The goal of the order is to help facilities group residents who have tested negative to protect them from infection and better serve residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 by allowing facilities to establish COVID-dedicated units, with approval of ISDH. Box said such units can allow facilities to better care for these residents and protect healthcare workers while helping to conserve personal protective equipment, such as masks and gowns.
A copy of the order can be found at https://coronavirus.in.gov.
###
