Daily Notes

May 22, 2020
9:00PM

Waveny LifeCare Network COVID-19 Daily Update
for Residents, Patients, and Families

As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, we’re reminded it originated to mourn the military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces, as a result of honorably defending our country. They stood up and defended our freedom at the risk of placing their own lives in harm’s way.

While clearly different on many levels – fighting today’s Coronavirus is the closest many in our staff’s generation will come to experiencing a broad scale war, clinical or not, with human casualties.  The weight on our Waveny Patient and Resident families from this pandemic battle has been incalculable, but lest we forget it has, according to the World Health Organization, claimed the lives of over 1,000 direct care healthcare workers worldwide, including 27 in the U.S.. It is a noble profession that we celebrate.

Thus it seems fitting this Memorial Day holiday to observe a broader definition of fallen heroes throughout history that shall forever include direct care healthcare workers who lost their own lives or suffered while protecting the well-being of their patients and residents. Lest we forget.

We celebrated nurses’ week, but we as members of Waveny’s family honor all of those caregivers and workers behind the scenes that support their efforts. In conjunction with the CDC, Kaiser Health’s research affiliate has launched a project called “Lost on the Frontline”, as COVID-19 continues to be a war without borders, time or demographic limitations.

Our team of healthcare professionals reaffirm their commitment to protect the safety and recovery of our Residents and Patient every day without fanfare nor without seeking acknowledgment.

Our vigorous and stringent clinical testing protocols have:
1. Substantially increased our community’s conversions of COVID-19 test results from positive to negative;
2. Brought greater accuracy and rigor to testing results and individualized care plans; and,
3. Successfully mitigated exposure risks

Results of Wednesday’s comprehensive Waveny Employee tests indicate that of 170 asymptomatic staff tested, a total of 4% tested positive (see below notes). While this is significantly below two relevant reference points: 24.7% of asymptomatic people in New York City had tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, and the CDC estimates that 35% of coronavirus patients don't have symptoms, this does not lesson our resolve. Any employee, symptomatic or asymptomatic, that screens or test positive at Waveny will be retested and allowed to return to work only after they receive negative test results.  

In observance of the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday, we will not issue a Daily Update on Monday, but shall otherwise continue uninterrupted.

Waveny’s aggregate data can be found at: waveny.org/daily-statistics

The Village
Sadly, after battling the virus and winning the battle by testing negative, one of our precious Residents on Hospice passed away. Our heartfelt condolences are with their family at this most difficult time. We honor their strength and fortitude.

Care Center
Three Patients received high IgG antibody tests results. We have retested many of our remaining positive COVID patients remaining in isolation using PCR and will be awaiting test results.

The Inn
The Inn continues to have no positive cases of COVID-19.

Waveny Home Care
We have assumed care responsibilities for 2 additional COVID-positive residents in the local community.

Below is Today’s Daily Update, which reflects only the changes from yesterday’s information as it relates to the COVID-19 virus and Waveny’s patients, residents and caregiver status.

Data:

Changes in the Number of Confirmed and Presumed Positive COVID-19 Cases of Residents/Patients Currently Residing within Waveny: -3
Village (Memory Care): 0 (One negative testing resident on Hospice succumbed.)
Care Center (Full Skilled Nursing): -3 (Three Patients with high IgG antibody serum test results)
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Changes in the Number of Confirmed and Presumed Positive COVID-19 Cases of Residents/Patients Currently Hospitalized: 0    
 
Changes in the Number of COVID-related Deaths (confirmed and presumed): 0
Village: 0
Care Center: 0                          

Changes in the Number of Employees who tested positive for PCR. All will be retested, but not work until test results are negative or proven to be recuperated and not contagious: 7
Employees with Direct Care: 6            
Employees with Non-Direct Care: 1

Changes in the Total of ALL Confirmed and Presumed COVID-19 Cases of Residents, Patients, and Employees: 4                                                              
Village: 0
Care Center: -3
Home Care: 0
Employees: 7

Comments:  

We will continue to provide more details on an all employees testing positive, when they can safely return to work and how our testing impacts Patient and Resident well-being and recovery—al while being in close communications and engagement with you. We greatly appreciate your support and understanding.

Your nursing supervisor will have specific medical details on your family member. Please continue to reach out to them on clinical issues, and to me on non-clinical issues or questions.

#WavenyStrong

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