The Natchitoches Nursing & Rehab Center in Natchitoches has notified several family members of confirmation that an individual at the facility in Natchitoches, 750 Keyser Avenue has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Should any one need information regarding the notification sent, you should call the Executive Director, Kacey Masters, RN,BSN at 318-201-9467 or by email 84KMasters@tarahc.com. (See Letters of Notice Below)
The Natchitoches Parish Journal reached out to Dr. Lau, Listed Medical Director for the center and Kacey Masters, RN, BSN, Executive Director. We asked for the total number of TESTED residents and of those tested, how many confirmed positive for COVID-19. We gave an example – Do you have 56 Tested; 34 Confirmed Positive?
Dr. Lau did not return our calls. Ms. Masters did return our call and here is her statement to the Natchitoches Parish Journal. (PLAY AUDIO BELOW)
On April 19, 2020, the Trump Administration Announces New Nursing Homes COVID-19 Transparency Efforts for Nursing facilities.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services “CMS” is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s health care facilities are prepared to respond to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE). • Communicable Disease Reporting Requirements: To ensure appropriate tracking, response, and mitigation of COVID-19 in nursing homes, CMS is reinforcing an existing requirement that nursing homes must report communicable diseases, healthcare-associated infections, and potential outbreaks to State and Local health departments. In rulemaking that will follow, CMS is requiring facilities to report this data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a standardized format and frequency defined by CMS and CDC. Failure to report cases of residents or staff who have confirmed COVID -19 and Persons under Investigation (PUI) could result in an enforcement action. This memorandum summarizes new requirements which will be put in place very soon. • Transparency: CMS will also be previewing a new requirement for facilities to notify residents’ and their representatives to keep them up to date on the conditions inside the facility, such as when new cases of COVID-19 occur. (See Below)
Kacey Masters, RN, BSN, Executive Director – Audio
