Improvements needed at Winnipeg care home amid outbreak of COVID-19: WRHA

Parkview Place Care Home in Winnipeg. (CTV News File Photo)

WINNIPEG — Two new COVID-19 deaths have been announced within the Parkview Place long-term care home in Winnipeg, and now public health officials have found staffing levels and support are a concern within the home and said improvements must be made.

Of the four COVID-19 deaths announced on Thursday, two deaths - a man in his 70s and a man in his 80s- were linked to the Parkview Place care home. Since an outbreak was declared at the facility in September, more than 70 residents have tested positive for the disease.

A spokesperson for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said a five-person team went to the care home on Saturday to speak with residents, staff, and management and inspected each of the building’s 12 floors, residential areas, and common areas.

All team members were screened before entering the care home and wore protective equipment during the review.

“Although Parkview Place has onsite management around the clock to provide additional support and monitoring, the facility is experiencing challenges to maintain staff resources during the outbreak, and existing staff who remain at work are in need of relief support,” the spokesperson told CTV News in a written statement.

They said beyond the staffing challenges, the team found changes must be made at the care home. These include adding housekeeping resources, bolstering staff training and education on outbreak protocols, and adding more medical and clinical care supports to meet resident care needs.

“We are working with the operations team at Parkview to ensure these improvements are made immediately," they said, adding the care home, along with the WRHA, are working to increase staffing.

They said the care home is looking into using general workers to help with operational requirements, and will potentially offer “on-the-job training and practicum opportunities” for some new hires.

It has also added a wage premium for workers.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Revera Living said the company appreciates the support and guidance from the WRHA and says the recent inspection confirmed the areas they have made progress in, and where they have to improve.

The company said they have seen staffing stabilize at the centre for several reasons.

“Some of our permanent staff who tested positive have resolved and they have been able to return to work,” the spokesperson said. “We have added both front line and management staff from other Revera locations, with WRHA approval, and hired new employees. We are also bringing in agency staff for a number of different roles to support the home’s clinical, recreation and environmental services staff.”

During Thursday’s COVID-19 briefing, Roussin said there are no plans for public health to take over the operation of the facility due to the outbreak there.

He added the lesson learned from the outbreak by the province is the importance of not introducing the virus into long-term care homes.

“We have the universal wearing of PPE for these exact purposes, that somebody can show to work without symptoms, develop symptoms, later on get tested positive, and they were infectious while they're at work,” he said. “But if they're wearing PPE appropriately the entire time, adhering to infection prevention and control guidelines, we've dramatically decreased the likelihood of that virus being transmitted in the facility.”