Bluewater Health is assuming a leadership role in the battle against COVID-19 at Sarnia's Vision Nursing Home.
The hospital said it's taking aggressive, collaborative action to prevent further spread of the virus at the Wellington Street facility where an outbreak was declared over a month ago.
More than 15 hospital staff are supporting the home with services like housekeeping, nursing, personal support, and dietary aides.
Communications Chief Julia Oosterman said Bluewater Health's management team, as of Wednesday, is assuming leadership in a number of areas.
"They'll be working specifically on infection prevention and control. Just really taking a look at all of the existing processes and procedures, which are great at Vision, but just really double checking to see if there are any areas where there perhaps could be slippage or an opportunity for exposure," she said. "We're also sending in our PPE experts, and our manager for environmental services."
Vision Nursing Home on Wellington St. May 2020 (BlackburnNews.com photo)
Oosterman said they'll also be supporting employees' mental and physical health, and providing communications expertise.
She said Home and Community Care has also supported Vision with four staff, care coordinators and PSWs, with an additional four staff to be deployed by the end of this week.
"By no means is Vision in the same boat as the five homes that came out of the Toronto report on Tuesday. We want to make sure that everyone is safe, both the staff and residents of that home. We have a close working relationship with Vision in any case, and I have to say it's leaderful to ask for help."
Since April 23, a total of 23 residents and 20 staff have tested positive at the long-term care home, and there have been six deaths.
Nine residents and 12 staff are currently positive.
The infected residents are in isolation and the entire home remains in lockdown in an effort to stem further transmission.