Bellingham nursing home to accept patients who have tested positive for coronavirus
Shuksan Healthcare Center, the Bellingham skilled nursing facility plagued by a cluster of COVID-19 cases among its staff and residents, will begin accepting new residents who have been diagnosed with the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Hyatt Family Facilities, which owns and operates the 52-bed facility in the York neighborhood, announced the decision in a statement sent to The Bellingham Herald late Wednesday.
“We know that hospitals in particular are looking for homes for their patients who are COVID-19 positive and who need skilled nursing but don’t require hospitalization,” said Dave Kiefer, regional director of operations for Hyatt Family Facilities.
Shuksan suffered an outbreak of COVID-19 as the pandemic disease spread through Whatcom County in March.
Whatcom County Health Department officials announced an outbreak of new coronavirus at the Bellingham nursing home on March 22, 2020, almost two weeks after the first Whatcom County case was confirmed March 10.
At least 10 Shuksan residents have died after testing positive for COVID-19 and an 11th person, a former Shuksan resident, died at home 10 days after they were released, was found to test tested positive for COVID-19, according to Bellingham Herald records.
Shuksan to The Herald in earlier stories that 54 people associated with the facility have tested positive for COVID-19, including 31 residents and 23 employees.
In all of Whatcom County, 27 people have died after testing positive for COVID-19 and 281 people have tested positive for COVID-19, the Health Department said Wednesday.
Kiefer said Wednesday’s announcement takes into account the staffing levels required for accepting new patients.
Shuksan officials told residents and their families about the plan to accept additional COVID-positive residents on Monday, Kiefer said.
“This decision has not been made lightly, but ultimately we believe there is a great need for skilled nursing services for the vulnerable, COVID-19 positive population in our community, and our staff is ready to help,” he said. “With our recent experience, we are in a position to effectively provide these services while mitigating the risk.”
Shuksan has converted an entire wing of its facility into a ward where only residents who are COVID-19 positive will be allowed.
Kiefer said officials at Shuksan have been coordinating the move with the Whatcom County Health Department and the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
“We will continue to follow CDC guidelines and direction from the Whatcom County Health Department for all of our residents throughout the entire facility,” he said.
On April 14, The Herald reported that Shuksan had 27 residents, 23 of whom have tested positive for the respiratory illness.
Officials at Whatcom Unified Command, the multi-governmental agency directing local pandemic response, has been seeking space to house COVID-positive patients who need to isolate or quarantine but don’t need hospitalization.
A deal was reached in early April to use the Motel 6 off Samish Way in Bellingham for an isolation site.
Six rooms were ready to be occupied, the Whatcom County Council was told in a Tuesday briefing.
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 5:58 PM.
