Over a week ago, the Arizona Department of Health Services started testing residents and staff in the state’s 147 Medicare-certified skilled nursing homes. But as test results come in, staff could be quarantined if they are positive — and that could be a problem.
Since the start of the pandemic, many facilities have reported losing staff. Some quit, some called in sick. They didn’t want to risk getting the coronavirus.
Now that some facilities are testing their entire staff, they could find themselves in another staffing bind.
Christopher Laxton is with the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, which represents medical professionals in long-term care.
"Universal testing our data has shown that you will find additional COVID with respect to staff in particular, it may be as high as 25% of your workforce," he said.
Dr. Cara Christ is the head of the Department of Health Services. She said her agency is providing assistance with staffing in case that happens, but she did not say where that “staffing” was coming from. The Department of Health Services has reportedly provided a link to the state’s registry for medical volunteers.
