MEDIA ROOM NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID–19)

PMMA’s COVID-19
Response Timeline

• August 2, 2020 – A Fort Scott Presbyterian Village non-direct resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19 Saturday, August 1. The employee is in isolation and quarantined at home. The employee, who does not work directly with residents, passed employee screening for their shift on July 30 and wore personal protective equipment as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The employee began to feel ill and sought COVID-19 testing. The campus was notified that the employee was positive for COVID-19 Saturday evening.
  
  The Bourbon County Health Department and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Epidemiology Hotline have been notified. Health department guidelines will be followed for quarantining and testing of employees and residents. Through contact tracing, eight campus employees and two residents have been identified as having close contact with the positive employee. The health department recommends placing all 10 people in isolation until testing can be completed later this week, and monitoring them for fever and signs and symptoms for 14 days.

• August 1, 2020 – Two additional Aberdeen Village employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The employees are not involved in providing direct resident care. They are in isolation and recuperating at home. The first employee last worked July 23, before attending a family event out of state. The second employee last worked July 30 and passed the employee screening. The second employee, who attended the same family event, was notified during the shift that family members who attended the event had tested positive for COVID-19. The second employee’s shift started at 6:30 a.m., and she was alerted about one hour into the shift. The second employee reported to the supervisor and went home. The employees sought COVID-19 testing and we were notified of the positive results July 31.
  
   The Johnson County Health Department and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Epidemiology Hotline have been notified, along with all other required federal and state agencies. The Johnson County Health Department did not recommend contact tracing or testing of other employees due to the fact that the first employee had last worked on July 23; the second employee completed only an hour of the shift and had little contact with others; and contract tracing indicated that the exposure came from attendance at the family event out of states. Aberdeen Village conducted contact tracing and identified one employee who had direct contact with the positive employee. The employee is in isolation and will be tested for COVID-19 next week.

• July 29, 2020 – An essential health care worker at Newton Presbyterian Manor tested positive this week for COVID-19. The positive test places Presbyterian Manor’s reopening plans on hold. The employee, who works in health care, passed employee screening for their shifts July 25 and 26 and wore personal protective equipment as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The employee began to feel ill on Monday and sought COVID-19 testing on Wednesday, July 29. The Harvey County Health Department has been notified of the positive test. The health department recommends testing all health care residents and all campus employees for COVID-19. The health department will test residents and employees on Monday, August 3.

• July 29, 2020 – An essential health care worker at Newton Presbyterian Manor tested positive this week for COVID-19. The positive test places Presbyterian Manor’s reopening plans on hold. The employee, who works in health care, passed employee screening for their shifts July 25 and 26 and wore personal protective equipment as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The employee began to feel ill on Monday and sought COVID-19 testing on Wednesday, July 29.
  
  The Harvey County Health Department has been notified of the positive test. The health department recommends testing all health care residents and all campus employees for COVID-19. The health department will test residents and employees on Monday, August 3.

• July 29, 2020 – Manor of the Plains received word that all residents and employees tested negative for COVID-19 in campus-wide testing conducted July 28 after an essential health care worker tested positive on July 24.

• July 27, 2020 – Clay Center Presbyterian Manor received zero deficiencies on a focused infection control survey conducted by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) July 27.

• July 24, 2020 – An essential health care worker at Manor of the Plains who last worked July 23 tested positive for COVID-19. This positive test places the community’s reopening plans on hold. The employee, who works in health care, passed the screening when reporting for work and wore personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended throughout the shift. The employee began experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and sought testing Friday, July 24. The employee notified human resources of the positive test result Friday evening. The Ford County Health Department has recommended testing the all residents and employees. Testing will be conducted July 28.

• July 24, 2020 – Aberdeen Village learned July 24 that a third non-direct resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked July 13 and passed the employee screening. The employee was next scheduled to work July 20 but did not work. The employee was tested for COVID-19 July 20 and reported a positive result to the community on Friday. The Johnson County Health Department was notified of the positive test. Based on the length of time since the employee last worked, the health department does not recommend additional testing at this time.

• July 18, 2020 – A second Aberdeen Village non-direct resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee and five others were tested July 14 after another employee tested positive for the virus July 12. The employee is in isolation and quarantined at home. The employee last worked July 6 and passed the employee screening. The employee called in sick on July 7, and was removed from the schedule. The other five employees tested negative for COVID-19. The Johnson County Health Department was notified of the positive test. Based on the length of time the employee has been quarantined and the other five employees tested negative, the health department does not recommend additional testing at this time.

• July 16, 2020 – Lawrence Presbyterian Manor has zero deficiencies on a focused infection control survey for assisted living conducted July 16. The survey was conducted by its licensing agency, the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).

• July 15, 2020 – Emporia Presbyterian Manor gets zero deficiencies on an infection control survey for assisted living conducted by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).

• July 14, 2020 – Clay Center Presbyterian Manor gets zero deficiencies on a nursing facility focused infection control survey conducted on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

• July 12, 2020 – Aberdeen Village notified a non-direct resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked July 8 and passed employee screening. The employee called in sick on July 9 and was tested for COVID-19 on July 10. Through contact tracing, six employees were identified who had direct contact with the positive employee. They are in quarantine and will be tested for COVID-19. No residents or employees are showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

• July 9, 2020 – Aberdeen Heights notified two additional employees test positive for COVID-19 in testing conducted July 7. One employee last worked July 8 and passed employee screening. The employee is a non-essential, non-direct resident care employee. The second employee is an essential direct-resident care employee who last worked on July 8 and passed employee screening. Neither employee is showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19. All residents and employees of The Glen at Aberdeen Heights will be tested again in 7 days. 
• July 9, 2020 – Wichita Presbyterian Manor notified an essential health care worker tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked June 21 and passed the employee screening. The employee was next scheduled to work June 29. The employee called in sick and was advised to get a COVID-19 test.  They were tested July 1 and the results were received July 9. The medical community and CDC advise that the incubation period for COVID-19 varies from host-to-host, but that most individuals who get infected and develop symptoms will do so within at least 14 days.  Because the employee has not been on campus for 18 days, there is not a risk that the employee transmitted COVID-19 on our campus. 
•  July 8, 2020 – The Ford County Health Department declares the outbreak at Manor of the Plains closed after all residents and employees tested negative for COVID-19 in testing conducted June 30. It was the second round of testing with all negative results. 
• July 8, 2020 – Wichita Presbyterian Manor Presbyterian Manor gets zero deficiencies on a nursing facility focused infection control survey conducted on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and zero deficiencies on an adult care home (assisted living) focused infection control survey by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). 
• July 8, 2020 – Salina Presbyterian Manor gets zero deficiencies on a nursing facility focused infection control survey conducted on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 
• July 7, 2020 – Aberdeen Heights notified that all results from testing employees and residents of The Glen at Aberdeen Heights on June 29 were negative. Another round of weekly testing is set for July 7. Weekly testing is required until the community has two rounds of testing with all negative results. 
• June 30, 2020 – Fort Scott Presbyterian Village gets zero deficiencies on an adult care home (assisted living) focused infection control survey by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). 
• June 30, 2020 – Aberdeen Village gets zero deficiencies on a nursing facility focused infection control survey conducted on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 
• June 29, 2020 – Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor received good news with the results of campus-wide testing completed last week. All residents—independent living, assisted living, memory care and health care—tested negative for COVID-19. The community tested 212 residents and employees June 25. Employees tested during the campus-wide testing also were negative for COVID-19. Two employees were out of town and will be tested this week. In addition, follow-up testing will be done related to the two previously reported positive tests. 
• June 24, 2020 –  Aberdeen Heights notified of two new COVID-19 positive tests employee testing concluded at the community June 22. One employee last worked June 21 and passed employee screening. The employee is a non-essential, non-direct resident care employee. The second employee is an essential direct-resident care employee who last worked today and also passed employee screening. Neither employee is showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Testing and quarantining will be completed in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health department recommendations. Residents who were in direct contact with positive employees will be placed in isolation pending COVID-19 testing results. All Aberdeen Heights employees and residents of The Glen at Aberdeen Heights will be re-tested for COVID-19 June 29. 
• June 24, 2020 –  Manor of the Plains received more good news with the results of a campus-wide retest for COVID-19. The campus learned that 65 residents and 86 employees tested for COVID-19 were negative. Of the employees who previously tested positive, only two are still awaiting a second negative test to be cleared to return to work. To officially close the outbreak at the community, one more round of testing with all negative results is needed. The next test will be June 30. 
• June 23, 2020 –  Clay Center Presbyterian Manor notified that 11 employees who had direct contact with COVID-positive resident tested negative for the virus. The resident also was re-tested and is now negative for COVID-19. 
• June 23, 2020 –  Salina Presbyterian Manor notified a non-direct-resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked June 16 and passed the employee screening. The employee called in to work June 17 and was tested June 18. The Saline County Health Department recommended contact tracing and testing those employees who had direct contact with the COVID-positive employee within 6 feet for 10 minutes or more during the employee's most recent shifts. 
• June 22, 2020 –  Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor notified another non-direct-resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19 in testing the week prior after another employee had tested positive for the virus. The community announced plans to test all residents and employees for COVID-19. 
• June 21, 2020 –  Aberdeen Heights notified two essential direct-resident care employees and one health care resident tested positive for COVID-19 in a second round of campus-wide testing June 19. Another round of testing will be scheduled and employees and residents will quarantine/self-isolate according to recommendations from the St. Louis County Health Department and the campus medical director. 
• June 19, 2020 –  Emporia Presbyterian Manor notified all COVID-19 tests for residents and employees from June 12 were negative. No additional testing was recommended by the Flint Hills Community Health Center. Two positive employees will return to work when released by the health department. 
• June 17, 2020 –  Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor notified an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked June 10. The employee was sent home after reporting a potential exposure to a COVID-19 positive person through social contact. The employee was tested on June 15 and results were received June 17. The Cowley County Health Department recommended contact tracing and testing employees who had direct contact with the positive employee. Seven members of the team were tested. 
• June 15, 2020 –  Aberdeen Heights notified an employee tested June 4 and an agency direct-care provider who began working at The Glen June 15 were positive for COVID-19. The community tested 192 employees June 4. Of those, 121 were negative and 70 tests are still pending. The 79 residents of The Glen at Aberdeen Heights, which includes assisted living, memory care and health care also were tested June 4. Of those, 65 tests were negative and 14 tests are still pending. The resident who tested positive in May has now tested negative twice and is now out of isolation at the community. 
• June 12, 2020 –  Emporia Presbyterian Manor notified a second employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee was tested during Flint Hills Health Department ordered testing of 37 employees at the campus conducted earlier this week. There are still 25 test results pending. The Flint Hills Health Department notified the community Friday morning and arrived to conduct campus-wide testing early Friday afternoon. The community notified residents and designated family contacts and all required federal, state and local agencies. The health department tested 170 employees and residents. 
• June 12, 2020 –  Clay Center Presbyterian Manor notified all employee and resident COVID-19 tests conducted June 10 were negative. The entire campus will be retested to confirm there was no campus-based transmission. 
• June 10, 2020 –  Clay Center Presbyterian Manor notified an assisted living resident tested positive for COVID-19. The resident returned from the hospital on Friday, June 5, and was placed in isolation for 14 days per our re-entry protocol. The resident was tested for COVID-19 after the community learned the resident may have been exposed while off campus. The Clay County Health Department recommended testing of all residents and employees. 
• June 9, 2020 –  Manor of the Plains learned all residents in independent living, assisted living and health care tested for COVID-19 were negative for the virus. The community tested 140 employees and residents. One employee tested positive, and 10 employees had to be retested due to issues with their samples at the lab. Re-testing was completed June 9. In addition, the health care resident who previously tested positive had a second consecutive negative test and was released from isolation. 
• June 4, 2020 –  Emporia Presbyterian Manor notified a non-direct resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked on June 2, and wore a mask and gloves as recommended by the CDC. The Flint Hills Community Health Center recommended testing 37 Presbyterian Manor employees and 2 employees of Morrison, the company that provides dining services. Tests were done the week of June 8. 
• June 3, 2020 – A non-essential direct resident contact employee at Aberdeen Heights tested positive for COVID-19. This is the second identified case tied to Aberdeen Heights. The senior living community has identified the employee’s contacts in the building and they were tested June 4. 
• May 30, 2020 – A health care resident living in The Glen at Aberdeen Heights has tested positive for the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The resident was diagnosed with pneumonia and was subsequently tested for COVID-19 at the direction of Dr. Alka Kapoor, Aberdeen Heights’ medical director, as part of her standard protocol. The health department recommended June 1 that all Aberdeen Heights employees and residents in The Glen, which includes assisted living, health care and memory support, be tested for COVID-19 this week. Testing was conducted June 4. 
• May 30, 2020 – The Ford Health Department and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Epidemiology Hotline notified Manor of the Plains of another employee who tested positive for COVID-19 Friday, May 30. On June 1, the Ford County Health Department recommended that all residents and employees be tested again. Independent living, assisted living and health care residents be tested with all Manor of the Plains employees. Testing was completed June 5. 
• May 27, 2020 – On May 26, 9 Manor of the Plains employees were administered rapid COVID-19 tests, and 2 employees tested presumptive positive for the virus. The Ford County Health Department recommended testing all other employees who have not yet been tested and re-test residents in health care for the virus. 
• May 23, 2020 – Manor of the Plains reported a cluster of COVID-19 infections to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ford County Health Department after 1 resident and 1 additional employee tested positive for the virus on May 23. Residents and employees working in health care were tested May 22 after another Manor of the Plains essential health care worker tested positive for COVID-19 due to a close personal contact showing signs and symptoms of the virus. Twenty-nine residents and 43 employees tested negative for the virus. The Health Department considers the three cases to be a cluster. Clusters are defined as two or more non-household COVID-19 cases identified in a certain timeframe and place. The Health Department requested any additional employees who had contact with either the new positive employee or the positive resident be tested. Employees were sent to be rapid tested. 
• May 20, 2020 – Manor of the Plains was notified a second essential health care employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee, who works the evening shift in health care, last worked on May 16. The employee was tested for COVID-19 Sunday, May 17 due to a personal contact not affiliated with Manor of the Plains, and the results were received late Wednesday, May 20. Manor of the Plains contacted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) epidemiology hotline and the Ford County Health Department. The Health Department has recommended testing the 30 residents who had contact with the employee during their last shift, and the 42 employees who had direct contact with the employee during their shifts on May 14 and May 16. Employees and family members were notified of the positive test and the health department recommendations. 
• May 7, 2020 – Manor of the Plains was notified an essential health care employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked April 26. The employee passed the employee screening for their shift April 26, and was not scheduled to work again until May 9. On May 6, the employee was tested for COVID-19 and the results were received May 7. Manor of the Plains contacted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) epidemiology hotline and notified the state about the positive test. KDHE did not consider the staff member to be infectious during the last shift worked 11 days prior and recommended no further action be taken. Employees and family members were notified of the positive test and KDHE's recommended response. 
• April 30, 2020 – Newton Presbyterian Manor notified an essential health care employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked April 21. The employee is in isolation and quarantined at home. The employee passed the employee screening for their shift April 21, but the employee was sent home during the shift when they started feeling unwell. The employee next reported for work April 23, but did not pass the screening and was sent home. The employee was tested April 24 for COVID-19, and the test was negative. The employee did not return to work. On April 28 when the employee was still not feeling well, the employee was tested a second time, and tested positive for COVID-19. The Harvey County Health Department advised Newton Presbyterian Manor to monitor residents in health care and memory care and other staff members for five days for any signs or symptoms of respiratory illness and signs of COVID-19. 

• April 1, 2020 – Aberdeen Heights notified an independent living resident receiving treatment at a local hospital tested positive for COVID-19. The resident had been off-campus since March 25. The state of Missouri has issued guidance to hospitals and senior living communities to ensure the resident is free of COVID-19 symptoms before the resident can return to the campus. Independent living residents were notified and were strongly advised to adhere to the no visitor “rule,” and limit the number of medically non-essential appointments, events and gatherings attended off campus.

• March 23, 2020 – Parsons Presbyterian Manor notified a non-direct care staff member tested positive for COVID-19 in a neighboring county. The employee had not had a temperature and was not displaying other symptoms of COVID-19. The community acted swiftly to ensure the safety of residents and other staff members. All residents placed in isolation for the next 14 days. During that time, residents to be checked for fever and other signs and symptoms of COVID-19 at each shift change. Residents were already being checked daily for fever and symptoms of COVID-19. Families and care partners were notified. All staff members are following CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated. Staff members who had direct contact with the affected staff member were placed on 14-day home quarantine and monitored for symptoms.

• March 17, 2020 – Heart and Soul Hospice, a wholly owned service of PMMA, releases statement on protocols in use to ensure health of hospice patients on service and to assure referring agencies that both locations are still accepting new patients.
• March 17, 2020 – A COVID-19 information page is added to the Heart & Soul Hospice website based on recommendations by the CDC and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. The website is shared by the two locations. Previously, prevention information had been shared on the hospices’ Facebook pages.
• March 16, 2020 – PMMA released a new LIMITED ACCESS poster updating the in-person visitor exception to end-of-life situations only per March 13 CMS guidance. Visitor questionnaire updated to include questions about domestic travel.
• March 16, 2020 – PMMA released communications to staff about increased access to telehealth through company health plan, whether a participating employee or not, and lifted restrictions on prescription refills for maintenance medications. Separate memo addresses travel and PTO. Employees who travel domestically to places with active COVID-19 cases, on cruise ships or internationally will not be allowed to return to work and will be expected to observe a 14-day quarantine upon return.
• March 14, 2020 – PMMA communities discontinue all communal dining and group activities, per CMS guidance on March 13, 2020. Residents educated on principles of social distance (6-feet between individuals at all times), and encouraged to practice the principles in conducting activities of daily life. PMMA communities begin screening all employees and checking for fever before starting a shift.
• March 13, 2020 – PMMA moves all communities to LIMITED ACCESS in response to CMS guidance. Community websites are updated to explain LIMITED ACCESS.
• March 13, 2020 – PMMA institutes weekly COVID-19 update calls with corporate staff and PMMA community leaders.
• March 13, 2020 – PMMA’s corporate marketing team meets with community marketers to discuss marketing strategies and tactics for LIMITED ACCESS communities.
• March 13, 2020 – First case of COVID-19 is announced in Sedgwick County. Three additional communities in Sedgwick and surrounding counties are added to the LIMITED ACCESS list. Information released later reveals the case is a Butler County man who was tested at a Wichita hospital.
• March 12, 2020 – PMMA posts a blog explaining the difference between LIMITED ACCESS and Visitation Discouraged on all PMMA community site blogs and the PMMA blog.
• March 10, 2020 – PMMA adopts CMS guidelines released March 9 creating two levels of visitation for senior health care centers. Three communities are placed on LIMITED ACCESS due to confirmed COVID-19 cases in their county or a surrounding county. Under the March 9 recommendations, access was limited except in the cases of end-of-life situations and where the visitor was necessary for the care and wellbeing of the resident. All other PMMA communities are placed on discouraged visitation, meaning visitation was discouraged unless absolutely necessary.
• March 9, 2020 – PMMA launches social media communications regarding COVID-19 on all community Facebook pages as well as the PMMA and hospice Facebook pages. Updates continue there throughout the crisis.
• March 7, 2020 – COVID-19 information pages are added to all 16 community websites and the corporate website. The same information is provided to charter members at Aberdeen Ridge through a members-only area of the Aberdeen Ridge site the week of March 9.
• March 6, 2020 – PMMA distributes a family letter regarding COVID-19 to all of its 16 communities for residents, families, volunteers and guests. Posters warning against visiting campuses if displaying of signs of COVID-19 or having recent international travel are distributed to PMMA communities and hung at entrances prior to weekend visits beginning. Additional COVID-19 resources are sent to communities as well to help teams in efforts to prevent COVID-19 from entering the buildings.
• March 6, 2020 – PMMA distributes letter to employees and resources for dealing with illness via PMMA Employee newsletter. The employee letter and resources from CDC also are provided for all PRN and agency staff.
• March 3, 2020 – PMMA has first interdisciplinary novel Coronavirus 2019 call with all of its communities and corporate staff. Work begins on letters to residents, families and employees and posters for entry doors to all communities.
• Mid-January 2020 – PMMA began having dialogue with our teams and communities about the COVID 19 virus. We looked at our infection control practices and policies, reviewed hand hygiene education with staff and residents, and began the process of preparation for this pandemic.

Download PMMA COVID-19 Response Timeline as PDF.

For more information, contact Karen Harriman, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President for Public Relations and Communications, at 316-685-1100 or [email protected], or Lisa Diehl, Corporate Communications Director at 316-685-1100 or [email protected]