Update at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation

April 13, 2020

To the Community and Members of the Media:

Good afternoon and we welcome the start of a new week at Riverbend. In terms of today’s update, we have the following information to share:

• We continue to see clinical improvements in our second-floor residents as has been described in previous updates, and are hopeful that all of those on the unit will be partially or completely through the recovery process by the end of this week. The clinical elements of the success we are seeing will be operationalized so that all affected residents have the benefit of the interventions proving effective.
• Because we have been able to learn more about the cycle of the virus, we have been able to apply that knowledge to our treatment plans for our first-floor patients. As a result, we are seeing a lesser impact of the virus on these patients which we hope will translate into a more rapid recovery process.
• In addition, we are seeing a return to Riverbend of those residents who were initially sent to the hospital after being identified as COVID-19 positive. These individuals have been stabilized and are appropriate for readmission here, and will continue their recovery and rehabilitation with us. We welcome them back, and look forward to being involved in their treatment going forward.
• We reviewed last night’s article in the Kansas City Star, and note our disappointment in what appears to be a continued negative narrative regarding our Facility. We also wish to note that we will be reaching out directly to the family of the resident quoted in the article, and make ourselves available to answer any questions and address any concerns they may have.
• Our special thank you today is directed at the anonymous donor of 100 customized cloth masks, which were recently received at the Facility. We are so appreciative of your thoughtfulness, and want you to know that our staff will wear these masks with gratitude for this kindness.

We thank you for your time today, and will look forward to updating you again tomorrow.

Cory Schulte                                                   Maureen Purvis, RN
Administrator                                                 Director of Nursing

Update at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation

April 11, 2020

To the Community and Members of the Media:

Today is a new day at Riverbend, and we are continuing to see improvement in our COVID-19 experience. It is with optimism and gratitude that we share the following update with you:

• We are seeing more and more encouraging results with our COVID-19 positive residents. As referenced yesterday, the initial grouping of patients who tested positive for the virus are located on the second floor of the Facility. After consultation with our Medical Director, the residents’ attending physicians, and our resources at the Wyandotte County Department of Health, we initiated recovery-based interventions. We have continued these interventions since that time, and are carefully monitoring and evaluating resident response and progress to assess their effectiveness. At this time, we estimate that approximately 80% of these patients are responding well; they are eating, drinking and getting out of bed, and moving toward recovery status.
• In light of the success we are seeing with our second-floor resident population, we are assessing and refining our approach to maximize the results with our first floor, newly diagnosed residents.
• Our nursing staff is laser focused on the clinical management of our resident community, as a whole. They are working together daily, again with the support of our physicians, to wrap their arms around the cycle of the virus and develop new strategies to anticipate and interrupt its course. We are hoping to tip the scales in favor of proactive (rather than reactive) treatment going forward, and are excited about the anticipated impact on our outcomes.
• We wish to express our thanks to “Operation BBQ Relief” and the generous donations made by Plow Boys to the cause, who have graciously offered to provide meals to our staff over the upcoming week. To say this is appreciated is an understatement – both the actual donation of food and the spirit and love behind it have resonated with our team, and remind us of the love that exists in this community. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.

We wish you all an early Happy Easter, and will look forward to updating you again tomorrow.

Cory Schulte                                                   Maureen Purvis, RN
Administrator                                                 Director of Nursing

Updated Information/COVID-19 Virus

April 3, 2020

We write to update the community on the status of the COVID-19 situation at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation. We can confirm that we do have residents who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and those COVID positive patients who remain in the building at this time are receiving care from the Riverbend clinical team. The treatment plan for these residents is being directed and overseen by the attending physician; is being continuously monitored by the clinical staff at Riverbend; and is being managed consistent with the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I am pleased to report that we are seeing improvements in several of these patients, and so appreciate our talented Facility team for their focused delivery of care.

As far as actions we are taking relative to infection prevention and management, generally, Riverbend is carefully and consistently following the direction issued by the CDC, CMS, and the State of Kansas (including Wyandotte County Health Department). A sampling of our interventions include universal masking; full PPE when interacting with COVID-positive or COVID-suspected residents; frequent handwashing; frequent use of hand sanitizer; screening and assessing employees and essential medical personnel prior to entry; Facility-wide infection surveillance; and restricting visitation as per the CMS directive of March 13, 2020. While the Facility has always had a comprehensive infection prevention program in place, we escalated our interventions early in the month of March when news of the Coronavirus began circulating; infection control remains our highest priority in the current environment.

We are fully committed to the health and welfare of the residents, families and staff whom we have the privilege to serve and who comprise the Riverbend family, and will continuously act in a manner consistent with that commitment. We are grateful to the healthcare providers who are working tirelessly to take care of our patients during these challenging times, and for the support we feel from the community.

Cory Schulte
Executive Director

March 12, 2020

Re: COVID-19 Virus and Visitation Limitation

Dear Residents, Family and Friends:

On behalf of the entire team at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation, we want to thank you for allowing us to care for you or your loved one.  We recognize the high level of trust that you place in us, and we are committed to providing high quality care to those whom we have the privilege to serve.

As you are most likely aware, the country is currently united in its attempt to navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 virus. Of course, we at Riverbend have consistently been following the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, including following strict handwashing procedures and wearing personal protective equipment when indicated by the resident’s presenting condition. We update our infection prevention protocols as new information becomes available.  Likewise, we remain in close contact with the local and state health departments, and appreciate their ongoing guidance and support.

You may also have read or heard that there has been a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in Wyandotte County which has caused us to revisit our visitation policy. Although the patient with the positive diagnosis was not and is not in our Facility, we are taking every precaution to protect our current residents, staff and visitors.  As part of our efforts to manage this development, and in accordance with the recent guidance provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, we will be limiting visitation at this time and until further notice.  By this, we mean that individuals will not be allowed to come into the Facility, except under certain limited circumstances, such as end-of-life situations or when a visitor is essential for the resident’s emotional well-being and care. Of course, we are happy to facilitate virtual visitation by phone or FaceTime, and encourage you to remain in contact with your loved ones without in-person visitation until such time as we are able to welcome you back.

In addition to the above limitation on visitation, we are continuing to be proactive regarding any infections that could impact our community.  Please know that we are all fully engaged in taking action to minimize the possible exposure associated with this and other viruses.

We thank you for your continuing confidence, and for helping us in our attempts to keep our residents and staff safe.  Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns or requests for assistance.  We will keep you updated as additional information becomes available.

~The Team at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation