Thread by @DrVivianS

I am currently joining families in the #TendercareLTC Town Hall (which is being hosted by @NYGH_News). I will live tweet updates. #TendercareLTC

Starts by saying they have a history of taking over many homes in outbreaks over the last 9 months and have been in the home for ~10 days.
She recognizes the "huge community response" and they are "starting to see positive signs of improvement".

She (Susan Kwolek) says they will stay on until the virus is gone. She says they are in active discussions with the LHIN to move some residents to the temp. health centre (that Fullerton just announced).

Oh this is good:
She says there "is a lot of misinformation" in the media (LOL SURE SURE) so she wants to clarify (yet she does not clarify what that "misinformation is").

Now she is reading off her resume (not sure why).
Now she is mentioning some doctors who are on the call and "will answer some questions".

Ok TELL ME ABOUT THIS MISINFORMATION SUSAN....I AM ITCHING TO FIND OUT.

Now a NYGH doctor is speaking about Ontario community transmission rates & how this leads to it getting into the homes where "then it is almost impossible to contain"

I DISAGREE DOCTOR. p.s @AmitAryaMD @NaheedD @drandrewb

This physician (Dr. Andrea Loft) seems to buy the same BS rationale that @DrFullertonMPP sells about these outbreaks not being controllable (they are) and they are ignoring the INSPECTION REPORT OUTLINING NEGLIGENCE.

Ohhhh they are going to regret having the comment function OPEN because I am JUMPING IN.

Now they are saying they will provide dedicate staff to now expedite family concerns (but families are messaging that they are constantly leaving messages and NOT getting calls back).

They are asking families to "be patient as there is a backlog" and they are hoping within 24 hours to return family calls.

They are saying they can also provide "VIRTUAL VISITS" (????) to have a face-face interaction with the resident??

WHY NOT LET THEM IN??

STAFFING UPDATE:
"Our staffing fluctuates day to day"....many are at home sick. About 20 have returned in few days but are using 11 different agencies to get staff in (and some staff who hear from the media and volunteer)

"They are starting to turn a corner" and staffing is starting to look pretty good "but that doesn't mean there are no gaps".
(not very comforting)

NEXT SLIDE: RESIDENT CARE and the role family play.
Mention that "caregivers" are still permitted to visit AS LONG AS THEY ARE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL CARE (WE KNOW) and they have to have a negative test and have IPAC training (you mean the one your staff didn't get?)

HOME CENSUS:
163 residents
90 residents are COVID+
45 resident cases have resolved
49 DEATHS (ONE MORE!!!)

STAFF CASES
80 staff infected
56 staff with resolved cases

Next Physician is speaking about IPAC.
-added cleaning of surfaces
-making sure PPE supplies are stable since they came on board
--now reviewing symptoms/incubation periods etc.,

NOW ITS QUESTION/ANSWER TIME.
25 mins left to ask Q's.

Q1. For patients who need help eating, is there enough staff to help with feeding?

A: 'They recognize nutrition is part of essential care of residents and everyone (?) is capable of helping and we are focused on that'.

Q: Video calls during meal times can help residents, can that be made possible?

A: I don't see why not....but we cant do it for every single resident for every meal but if you think it will help, that can be part of the plan of care (just let them know at the 1-888 #

Q: Have you reached out to the Minister for more help? eg Red Cross

A: They have NOT asked for that help yet. They feel that with the agencies and dozens of volunteers that they can staff the home with regular, consistent staff.

They don't think they need CAF or red cross!

Q: Have staff been trained on proper use of PPE?

A: This is a "major focus of their team". They have a team of highly trained swat staff focusing on teaching staff how to safely use PPE etc.,

PPE Cont.

Physician said fear can cause mistakes (eg adding additional layers of PPE or staff are afraid to take it off so they wear it continuously among different residents and in hallways etc.

SAFETY CONT.
They are training them to replace PPE after EVERY resident interaction (Dr. Kevin Katz speaking).

Q. On Vaccinations:
-The vaccine should come to them "ANY DAY" now.
-He says there is concern that vaccinating staff in homes with big outbreaks may be problematic.....

-and that some vaccination programs have been put on hold with homes in large outbreaks.

Q: Can residents be taken out of facility to take their loved ones home?

A: She (Susan) urges you should think this through well and weigh the risks and benefits.

Taking residents home:
You can also move your family to the specialized care centre instead of taking them home (meaning if you don't think they are safe at Tendercare)...but this is only a "temporary accomodation"

5 MINS LEFT...they will take a couple more questions.

Introducing Interim president of NYGH to say final words.

Q: How do you isolate residents who have tested positive?

A: No clear answer...something about droplet precautions employed?

Now they are cutting it off....only a handful of questions asked. They will "email" answers to unanswered questions.

Will aim to do these weekly.

p.s NO FOLLOW-UP OR CLARIFICATION ON THE RATHER TERSE MENTION OF "MISINFORMATION" by the host. That is not cool. You do not bring that up and a town hall and fail to elaborate.

Ok thats it folks. Hopefully that was helpful for my Tendercare Families who could not attend but asked me to on their behalf.

I, however, have MANY questions unanswered.

Like:

1. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY MISINFORMATION???

2. What are your current staffing levels? Did you replace every sick worker currently isolating?

3. What about all the reports of patients not being fed/attended to properly (none of that mentioned)

4. What about residents in shared rooms? How are you cohorting?

5. Why were family not being allowed in up to this point despite you revealing in this town hall that caregivers are indeed allowed in with a negative test + IPAC training?

Initial family feedback I am hearing=
*felt staged
*still unsure if staffing is actually stable
*not enough time for Q&A etc
*some unclear answers to questions
* "misinformation" comment that was not clarified.

Ok that's it for now my Tendercare Families. Hope that was helpful♥️

CORRECTION: This person speaking above (who I vehemently disagree with re: the outbreak being "almost impossible to contain" once it gets into the home is NOT with NYGH. She is the "Director of Operations" for "Extendicare Assist" (Andrea Loft).