The company that owns the senior care facility in Burlington recently beset by COVID-19 cases says it is doing what it can to reduce the spread of the virus.
Life Care Center in Burlington says 18 people, 11 residents and seven staffers, have the virus. Some of the residents are hospitalized, while others are being treated at the center. Affected workers are recovering at home, according to director Beth Stockerbrand. She also says Life Care Center has been following all health guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, KDHE and local levels of government.
In addition, Stockerbrand says staff have been diligent in practicing proper hand hygiene and using personal protective equipment. Workers are screened daily, including temperature checks, and are sent home with directions to call their physicians if they have temperatures above 100.4 degrees. Stockerbrand says these steps were part of the routine both before and after the cases came to light.
Stockerbrand adds there are a series of restrictions for visitors, family members and vendors to access the facility.
Life Care Center was identified Tuesday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as the skilled nursing facility linked to nearly 20 COVID-19 cases both in Coffey and other area counties.
5:30 am Tuesday: Life Care Center puts Burlington patient count at 18, including 11 residents
The Life Care Center facility in Burlington says its coronavirus caseload is approaching 20 patients.
In a statement to the Kansas City Star, Life Care Center says 18 people, 11 residents and seven staffers, have the virus. Some of the residents are hospitalized, while others are being treated at the center. Affected workers are recovering at home, according to director Beth Stockerbrand.
KVOE News has requested the statement and is awaiting a response from the company.
The company statement followed confirmation from Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman, who said a state investigation is underway into how the case cluster developed.
The 18 cases in Burlington include all of Coffey County’s 14 cases plus three of Lyon County’s 11 cases, according to health officials in both counties. The location of the 18th case has not been announced.
The Burlington facility is owned by Life Care Centers of America, which owns the nursing home that had the first COVID-19 death in Kansas as well as the facility outside Seattle, Washington, that has now had over 30 COVID-19 deaths. Life Care Centers also owns a facility in Springfield, Missouri, where three people have died.
Besides Burlington, Life Care Centers owns and operates facilities in Andover, Kansas City, Osawatomie, Overland Park, Seneca and Wichita.
