Amid COVID-19 Surge, PA Deploys Long-Term Care Sites To Support Nursing Facilities

PENNSYLVANIA — Four skilled nursing facilities currently caring for a high number of COVID-19 patients will soon receive aid from new long-term care regional support sites, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced Monday.

The goal is to relieve pressure on hospitals and skilled nursing facilities with high burdens during the pandemic.

“COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at historically high levels and health care workers need some support to get through this current surge,” Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter said.

Based on demand, staffing resources at these sites are expected to be deployed for up to 90 days.

“Establishing these long-term care support sites will benefit hospitals and nursing homes caring for high numbers of patients with COVID-19,” Klinepeter said. “This collaborative effort between state agencies and the health care community is the next step in the Wolf Administration’s multi-layered approach to relieve the strain on health care workers and facilities."

Klinepeter was joined by representatives from the departments of Military and Veterans Affairs, along with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, to announce this next step in the state's health care support initiatives.

“Our agency regularly works across all levels of government, and the public and private sector to lead collaborative planning efforts to respond to complex situations that present unique challenges such as the ongoing pandemic,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “We’re pleased to continue to be involved in the planning and execution of this new initiative.”

Within the next seven to 10 days, regional support sites will open at the following skilled nursing facilities:

• Vincentian Home in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
• Lutheran Home in Hollidaysburg, Blair County
• Springs at the Watermark in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
• Clarview Nursing Home and Rehabilitation in Sligo, Clarion County

The health department will evaluate hospitals' needs in terms of regional support throughout the process.

Each facility will receive clinical and non-clinical support staff to open up to 30 beds to allow for more rapid discharge of patients from hospitals, when clinically safe to do so, freeing additional acute care space to meet COVID-19 demands.

"These missions are successful because of our partnership with the Department of Health and PEMA and our collaborative efforts demonstrate how government works together, in serving and supporting our communities, especially residents and the staff in long-term care facilities,” said Major General Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

The health department is contracting for clinical staff through General Healthcare Resources, which is focusing its staff engagement and recruitment on healthcare professionals from outside of Pennsylvania to avoid heightening current staffing limitations within the state.

General Healthcare Resources will provide clinical staff, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants. The Pennsylvania National Guard will provide non-clinical staffing to support the facility’s existing staff, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency will assist in the coordination.

This staffing assistance is separate from the state-directed strike teams currently deployed at Grand View Health in Bucks County and Crozer Health in the southeast, as well as federal strike teams deployed to hospitals in Scranton and York.

Additionally, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation last week that designates $225 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to support the healthcare workforce in Pennsylvania.

Be the first to know what's going on in your local community when you subscribe to Patch.