KMHC “Safest Place To Be”
Written by Paul Graif on 9 April 2020
In Quebec 50% of deaths are from those living in long term care facilities. It is bringing to light the issue of understaffing at many long term care facilities in the province according to Lisa Westaway, the Executive Director Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC).
Quebec has put in a directive that all residents and employees at these facilities should be tested. “We have not received that directive here. We do not have any suspect cases at the present time at the KMHC or the Elders Lodge,” Westaway said.
“At KMHC we have an infection prevention and control nurse. We have a higher nurse to patient ratio in order to maintain a better quality of care for our residents. We think that is why we have no positive cases. We have procedures in place that are above and beyond. We feel the hospital is one of the safest places to be in. We feel that going to the hospital is much safer than going to the grocery store. It is because of the staff,” Westaway said.
It is because extremely high standards of cleaning and hygiene are maintained at the KMHC.
“We have a philosophy: If you use it, you must clean it. After they use a piece of equipment they wipe is down with a hospital approved disinfectant,” Leslie Walker-Rice, the Infection Prevention and Control Nurse at the KMHC, said. She sang the praises of the housekeeping staff at the KMHC. Indicating that each patient’s room is cleaned at least once a day. The bathrooms are cleaned three to five times a day.
138 tests have been completed at the testing site in Kahnawake since is opened. It is now closed for the long holiday weekend. It will open on Tuesday at 11 am. In the meantime, if you are experiencing symptoms, you should self-isolate for 14 days. You should also call the KMHC for a test at 450-638-3930 Ext. 2296 or Ext. 2275. Or 811.
