The state of Tennessee’s largest skilled nursing facility with the largest unit of ventilator dependent patients has completed their first government-mandated COVID-19 testing. This large facility is The Health Center at Standifer Place here in Chattanooga. With over 900 tests submitted
and completed, Standifer Place came away with no cases of COVID-19.
This testing included their campus’s Assisted Living and Independent Living at Standifer Place facilities.
“This is an outstanding accomplishment of our staff and residents and families," said Dave Boozer, senior administrator at Standifer Place. "We are very thankful and elated to be COVID-19 free at this point in the pandemic. “With so many residents and staff members, with so many medically fragile people under our care, it cannot be overstated how proud we are of our dedicated and compassionate staff members, of the families of our staff, of our wonderful residents and also their families. All of us pulled together to help make this first test a success.”
CEO John Strawn, who has overseen the company since its inception in 2000, speaks of the challenges faced by all nursing homes: “This virus is so difficult to contain; nursing homes just can’t afford to relax at the moment. Nursing homes likely will have to continue all their COVID-19 related restrictions for at least the next couple of months, assuming no significant swing in COVID cases in the area.
"What should keep us all humble and vigilant is knowing there are some fine nursing homes with strong leadership in and close to the Chattanooga area that have unfortunately had COVID cases despite their efforts to keep it out. This isn’t over yet. Standifer Place may yet eventually get a case. But one thing I’m confident in, and that is that Standifer Place will respond swiftly and do our very best to limit the virus’ impact. I can’t be more proud of our teams’ work and dedication."
All nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state of Tennessee are undergoing mandatory COVID-19 testing. Following recommendations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and the Centers for Disease Control, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced on May 1, that all nursing home facilities were required to test each resident and staff member for COVID-19 by the end of the month. Through the month of May, nursing facilities around the state, in coordination with state labs or with private labs, began to procure test kits, administer the nasopharyngeal swabs, and submit them to labs for results. The May 31 deadline was recently extended until June 30.