By Mitchell Clarke
The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc and heartbreak across Victoria’s aged care community, but two local facilities, which both experienced an outbreak, have successfully emerged from the crisis unscathed.
Kooweerup Regional Health Service (KRHS) and Bass Coast Health have both been officially declared by the Federal Government as ‘free of the outbreak’ status.
A staff member of KRHS tested positive to the virus on 15 August, after being identified as a close contact a day prior. In total, two staff members tested positive.
As a result, the facility enacted an outbreak management plan and all residents were swabbed, before a deep clean of the facility took place.
Bass Coast Health also experienced an ‘outbreak’, when one agency staff member tested positive after it was revealed they had worked at another facility with an outbreak.
KRHS CEO Frank Megens and Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child said the positive tests were “devastating outcomes” for each service, which had been working around the clock to protect the most vulnerable community members.
But without comprehensive outbreak management plans in place, the story could’ve easily turned tragic.
“Training was essential and put us on the front foot. The outbreak hit so quickly, we would not have been able to cope without that preparation. It was a huge effort,” Mr Megens explained.
Both health services promptly adopted new ways of working, and took measures which assumed that any resident or staff member could be carrying the deadly virus.
“We had to implement enormous change across the health service, and then more, to solve problems quickly, capture opportunities and mitigate risk,” Ms Child explained.
“The changes to some of our services to ensure continuity in the new Covid-19 world has involved significant investment, training and new learning and additional effort by everyone.”
Additional PPE was mandated, hallways were lined with nurse’s stations, multiple offices were moved, distancing measures were strengthened and teams communicated through daily musters.
In both cases, when positive tests were revealed, families of residents were notified immediately and brought into the team to receive regular briefings and to be heard.
Throughout the ordeal, the mental health and wellbeing of all residents remained front of mind. Residents were forced to stay in their rooms as any trace of the virus was removed.
Both services have since doubled their efforts to rebuild the social connection that residents would normally enjoy through shared meals and recreation.
Music, costumes, laughter, Father’s Day celebrations, exercise and counselling support have all proven essential in recent weeks.
At Kooweerup, window visits are back and residents have been utilising Skype to keep in touch with their loved ones.
Mr Megen said each facility was able to take “some good” from the extraordinary event.
“We have decluttered our facilities and they will maintain the minimalist look. We have up skilled our staff quicker than we ever could have imagined,” he explained.
“We have also built new partnerships in our community and strengthened relationships with our families. We are prepared for anything.”
