COVID-19: Mitigation Strategies at the MI
Nursing/Restorative Center
MI Nursing/Restorative Center is one of the largest skilled nursing facilities in
Massachusetts caring for up to 231 residents each day. MI also represents
the largest number of skilled nursing home beds in the City of Lawrence, a
community especially hard hit by COVID-19.
We share the community’s concern and heartbreak as we continue to work
tirelessly to mitigate the devasting toll the COVID-19 virus is having on the
frail seniors entrusted to us for care. Our transmission mitigation strategies
include:


We have fastidiously followed the guidance of the MA Department of
Public Health as well as the recommendations of the CDC and CMS.
We also have regular coordination calls with the MA Department of
Public Health which has been helpful in terms of fast-tracking test
results and reviewing our procedures and process.



Testing of all residents and staff. The National Guard assisted us with
this process. In many cases, someone with COVID-19 does not exhibit
symptoms, and this comprehensive testing process helped us
implement appropriate isolation and quarantine protocols.



In early March, we closed our facility to visitors and accepted no new
admissions. This created challenges for families who understandably
wanted to see their loved ones but helped to limit the spread of the
virus.



Everyone who enters the facility undergoes a health screening focusing
on the symptoms associated with COVID-19. This includes
temperature checks.



Early on, we implemented mandatory masking for all employees and
have limited staff travel throughout the facility. All staff in resident
care settings wear full PPE. We are fortunate to be able to access the
supplies we need from multiple sources including our sister hospitals in
the Covenant Health system.



We had 70 staff members test positive which is reflective of the
infiltration of the virus in the community. Of these, all but 22 have
recovered and have returned to work. To ensure that we had adequate
clinical staff in-house to care for residents, we received nursing support
from the Covenant Health hospitals until our own staff members could
return to work.

 

All high touch surface areas are being cleaned thoroughly throughout
the day



Social distancing except during the provision of resident care is strictly
enforced and group programs including community dining have been
suspended.



Nonetheless, as of May 11, we have lost 48 residents who have been
COVID positive, all with underlying medical issues. We are also
pleased to report that 13 residents have recovered from the
virus and are now recuperating.



We recognize the toll this has taken on our staff. Residents at skilled
nursing facilities like MI, call this home. Our staff know them well and
know their families well. This has been an extremely difficult time –
probably the most challenging those of us in healthcare have ever
encountered. We continue to be so grateful for the resilience of our
employees…some of whom left work because they were sick, did all
they could to recover, and who now are back at work with smiles on
their faces.