Coronavirus-wracked nursing home evacuated after most of staff failed to show for two days

[left-of-center2012]

A California nursing home where dozens have tested positive for the novel coronavirus was forced to evacuate Wednesday after a majority of its staff failed to show up to work for the second consecutive day, according to public health officials. People decked out in masks, gloves and protective gowns could be seen wheeling residents of the Magnolia Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Riverside, Calif., one by one on stretchers to ambulances that would take them to other care facilities in the area.

At the time of the evacuation, the center was looking after more than 80 patients, 34 of whom have tested positive for the coronavirus, Riverside County Public Health Officer Cameron Kaiser said at a news conference. Five employees have also contracted the virus, Kaiser said.

Riverside County officials say they do not yet know why many of Magnolia’s staff members stopped reporting for duty. As of Wednesday, Kaiser said his office had not received any complaints from the staff about working conditions at the 90-bed center, which bills itself as “one of the finest skilled nursing facilities in Riverside, California.” But no matter how justified the reasoning may be, Kaiser said he is concerned that the employees’ actions “could rise to the level of abandonment.”

On Tuesday, only one certified nursing assistant out of the 13 scheduled to work showed up, which prompted facilities nearby to send more than 30 of their own nurses to the center, according to a news release from the county. The staffing problem persisted into Wednesday morning, Kaiser said at the news conference, leaving him with no choice but to order the evacuation “to safeguard the well-being of the residents and ensure appropriate continuity of care.” According to the most recent figures, Riverside County has 1,179 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with 32 reported deaths.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/09/california-nursing-home-coronavirus/

[malaise]

1. OMFG

[Laelth]

2. Expect to see more of this.

Our medical personnel are being used and abused. There’s only so much that they can take.

-Laelth

[Johnny2X2X]

3. Low paid workers

I think a reckoning is happening across the country right now. These nursing home workers are paid terribly. You don't get much loyalty for $13 an hour.

[blueinredohio]

4. True, usually stnas taking care of residents.

Normally paid minimum wage and no benefits. If resident count goes down, the staff is cut. Stnas are some of America's hardest workers who get treated very poorly.

[Hoyt]

5. Not saying no-shows should be penalized, but I'd darn sure promote aide that did report.

Then, I'd fire the person responsible for making sure staff was available.

Then, hire someone -- maybe aide above -- to make sure that never happens again.