UPDATED: Catholic Health released a statement related to Father Baker Manor. It is viewable at the bottom of this story: It notes, in part, that the actual number of COVID-19 deaths at Father Baker Manor is 23, though six people died at St. Joseph Post-Acute Treatment Center in Orchard Park, which falls under the Father Baker Manor license.
Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York state is reporting more than 1,700 previously undisclosed deaths at nursing homes and adult care facilities as the state faces scrutiny over how it's protected vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
At least 4,813 people have died from COVID-19 in the state's nursing homes since March 1, according to a tally released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration late Monday that, for the first time, includes people believed to have been killed by the coronavirus before their diagnoses could be confirmed by a lab test.
In Erie County, COVID-19 nursing home deaths has jumped to 121 and in Niagara County there are 15 nursing home deaths.
Governor Andrew Cuomo commented on the new figures Tuesday, saying, "I would take all of these numbers now with a grain of salt...I think they're going to change over time."
Parker Jewish Institute in Queens and Isabella Geriatric Center — one of New York City's largest nursing homes with 705 beds — have reported the highest number of deaths: 71 and 64, respectively.
Audrey Waters, a spokeswoman for Isabella Geriatric Center, said in an email last week, "Isabella, like all other nursing homes in New York City, initially had limited access to widespread and consistent in-house testing to quickly diagnose our residents and staff. This hampered our ability to identify those who were infected and asymptomatic, despite our efforts to swiftly separate anyone who presented symptoms."
In many cases, the state's new figures reveal many more deaths than previously reported at nursing homes: Isabella Geriatric Center had 13 COVID-19 deaths reported as of May 1, and now reports the deaths of 21 patients who were confirmed to have COVID-19 along with 43 deaths of residents presumed to have COVID-19. And Ozanam Hall of Queens now is reporting a total of 53 deaths, up from just 10.
Several veterans home have been especially hard-hit by the virus: The Long Island State Veterans Home has reported 53 deaths; including 48 confirmed and five presumed COVID-19 deaths. The New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans in Queens has reported 33 deaths while New York State Veterans Home at Montrose in Westchester says 22 residents have died.
Cuomo promised on March 2, when only a handful of coronavirus cases had been reported in New York, to make a "special effort" for nursing homes and congregate homes housing senior citizens. The state directed nursing homes to screen visitors and consider modifying visiting hours on March 6, and later suspended visits to nursing homes statewide March 12.
But the governor is facing criticism over his administration's role in overseeing and supporting New York's overwhelmed, state-regulated nursing homes as many have struggled to treat COVID-19 patients, amass enough personal protective gear or ensure adequate staffing.
Advocacy groups for the elderly and family members of nursing home residents have called for greater transparency over COVID-19 cases at each state-regulated nursing home and criticized an April 1 state law granting some immunity to hospitals and nursing homes from civil and criminal liability. They also questioned the state's March 25 policy that says "no resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to a nursing home solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19."
The governor and his administration have defended that policy as ensuring nursing home residents aren't left lingering in hospitals or without anywhere else to go. Cuomo's spokesman tweeted Monday that the policy follows federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidance. But the federal guidance says only that a nursing home "can accept a resident diagnosed with COVID-19" so long as the nursing home can follow federal guidance on transmission precautions.
Cuomo has also said the state has facilities that can house transferred COVID-19 nursing homes patients, and he recently said that nursing homes that tell the state up-front that they can't care for a COVID-19 patient wouldn't face regulatory scrutiny. His administration hasn't responded to a request for questions on the state's current capacity to care for COVID-19 nursing home residents and whether nursing homes were informed.
Meanwhile, Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein confirms New York State is beginning to aggressively inspect and test at nursing homes across Western New York.
"They do want to aggressively go in", said Burstein during the latest Erie County update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Burstein says state inspectors will be visiting six facilities a week.
"I know they have started", said Burstein who says the county wants to be a partner with the state in the process.
Inspectors will be looking for appropriate personal protective equipment, conducting testing of patients and staff and making sure COVID-19 positive patients and staff are isolated.
CATHOLIC HEALTH RELEASED THE FOLLOW STATEMENT REGARDING CORONAVIRUS DEATHS AT FATHER BAKER MANOR
The 29 deaths attributed to COVID-19 at Father Baker Manor, a five-star nursing home on Medicare.gov, include six that occurred at the St. Joseph Post-Acute Treatment Center in Orchard Park, which falls under the FBM license. The actual number of COVID-19 deaths at FBM is 23.
Unlike other nursing homes in WNY, Father Baker Manor has tested and retested everyone in the facility – patients, residents and staff – since its first sub-acute rehab patient tested positive for COVID-19 in early April. We believe this higher standard of testing, well beyond New York State Department of Health (DOH) requirements, has resulted in more deaths attributed to COVID-19 than other nursing homes in the region.
Non-COVID nursing home deaths are not publically reported, so it is likely COVID-related deaths may be underreported in facilities that do not extensively test their residents. It's also important to note that many facilities consider their residents COVID-free after 14 days of testing positive, even if they are not re-tested. Under this assumption, if death occurs after that time, it may not be classified as a COVID-related death. At Father Baker Manor, residents are considered COVID positive until they test negative, which for some may be after one month or more.
While every loss of life is difficult, especially for the families who are not able to be with their loved ones at this time, as well as for our extended Father Baker family, we have many elderly residents with life-limiting health conditions. Some of these residents are already receiving end-of-life comfort care or have specifically requested that they do not want extreme measures to extend their life even in the wake of the Coronavirus.
