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Brayden Lepore

WILKES-BARRE &mdash; Reacting to concerns and criticism, the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday said long-term care facility data presented publicly was meant to be reported by the facilities themselves.
				&ldquo;However, they did not report completely, or in some cases at all, and so the data had to be reported through another method &#8211; the department&rsquo;s NEDSS system, which matches case information and facility address,&rdquo; said Nate Wardle, DOH press secretary. &ldquo;We are constantly working to make sure the data we provide is accurate.&rdquo;
				The Department of Health was criticized Thursday when the report it issues concerning long term care facilities was said to contain inaccurate information.
				Several Luzerne County facilities expressed concern, as did the Pennsylvania Health Care Association.
				Zach Shamberg, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, said, &ldquo;The state owes it to our most vulnerable residents, our healthcare heroes, and our providers of care to get this right.&rdquo;
				Just two days after the Department of Health first publicly reported facility-specific COVID-19 data for nursing homes, personal care homes and assisted living communities, Shamberg and the PHCA urged the department and the Wolf Administration to immediately correct the inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the flawed report:
				&ldquo;Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, PHCA members have supported transparency and communication, and we have led the charge to publicly post this information,&rdquo; Shamberg said. &ldquo;However, minutes after the data was published, it became clear it contained inconsistent and inaccurate information about many providers. The posted data simply did not match with providers&rsquo; actual experiences with COVID-19, the information that they have shared with families, residents and staff, or the data they had already submitted to the Department of Health.&rdquo;
				Timber Ridge: Numbers didn&rsquo;t match
				Gloria Keyes, NHA, Administrator at Timber Ridge Health Center in Wilkes-Barre, said transparency is important.
				&ldquo;Which is why we believe the Department of Health&rsquo;s decision to publicly report the number of COVID-19 cases in each facility is a good step,&rdquo; Keyes said. &ldquo;However, the first public report does not match our facility numbers.&rdquo;
				Keyes said Timber Ridge currently reports to several databases for both the state and federal government, and May 20 reporting was inconsistent with those reports she submitted.
				&ldquo;We recognize that Department of Health&rsquo;s flawed publicly reported data may cause unnecessary confusion and concern for our residents, resident family members, staff and community,&rdquo; Keyes said. &ldquo;We are hopeful that the Department of Health will correct this issue.&rdquo;
				Keyes said Timber Ridge&rsquo;s total number of residents who tested positive with the virus was 82. She said 27 of those residents passed away related to the virus. The remaining residents have recovered.
				Keyes went on to say that the last positive case was resolved on April 24. She said the facility has no active COVID-19 residents at this time. The total number of staff who tested positive was 30, Keyes said, and as of Friday, 29 have recovered and one continues to follow their physician treatment plan.
				Plymouth Manor raised concerns
				Christopher S. Lehmann, NHA, Managing Member of Plymouth Manor Personal Care Center, said his facility was &ldquo;misrepresented in the Health Department&rsquo;s report.&rdquo;
				Plymouth Manor Personal Care Center does not have any resident cases, staff cases, or deaths as a result of COVID-19,&rdquo; Lehmann said. &ldquo;We are fighting vigorously to have this false data redacted immediately. We have worked tremendously hard to successfully keep COVID-19 out of our facility.&rdquo;
				The Health Department&rsquo;s report issued Friday, did not list the facility or any other long term care facility that has not had any cases of COVID-19. That made Lehmann happy.
				&ldquo;I guess you can say that I am content at this point,&rdquo; Lehmann said. &ldquo;Our point was driven home and the Health Department changed the way they report the data.&rdquo;
				State responds 
				Wardle said the long-term care facility data presented publicly was meant to be reported by the facilities themselves.
				&ldquo;However, they did not report completely, or in some cases at all, and so the data had to be reported through another method &mdash; the department&rsquo;s NEDSS system, which matches case information and facility address,&rdquo; Wardle said. We are constantly working to make sure the data we provide is accurate.&rdquo;
				Wardle added that the department is working to ensure it has data for all facilities, including those without cases.
				&ldquo;Those without cases will not be published, but we need to make sure all facilities are reporting the data to us appropriately, as the facilities were ordered to do as of May 17,&rdquo; Wardle said. &ldquo;At this time, those facilities who are not reporting, or not reporting properly are being assisted regarding any issues. Moving forward, we will be mandating that facilities are reporting, and reporting the necessary information as has been ordered.&rdquo;
				Shamberg said for several weeks, long-term care providers and staff have remained in close communication with the family members and loved ones of their residents, providing information on COVID-19 illnesses and deaths that may have occurred. As visitation has been restricted, Shamberg said they have worked to build trust between those caring for their residents, and those concerned for their health and well-being.
				&ldquo;On Tuesday, for many providers, front line staff and families, that trust was broken,&rdquo; Shamberg said. &ldquo;The Department&rsquo;s posting of this inaccurate data has created panic and anger among family members, distrust among staff and frustration for providers.&rdquo;
				Shamberg said PHCA has spoken with the Department of Health, as well as the Governor&rsquo;s Office, and they have admitted the data is incorrect.
				&ldquo;We have demanded that the flawed data be taken down from public view immediately and that accurate, verifiable data be posted,&rdquo; Shamberg said. &ldquo;We have committed to work with the Department of Health in this effort to get the data right.&rdquo;
				Shamberg went on to say that while the public has overwhelmingly demanded the disclosure of this data, it is imperative that the Department provide facts, not fiction, when reporting on the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.
				Latest numbers
				Luzerne County facilities on DOH report and number of deaths:
				Mountain City Nursing & Rehab Center, Hazle Township, 6
				Mountain Top Healthcare & Rehab Center, 19
				Birchwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Nanticoke, 5
				Allied Services Meade Street Residence, Wilkes-Barre, 8
				North Penn Manor, Wilkes-Barre, 7
				Timber Ridge Health Center, Wilkes-Barre, 26
				Riverstreet Manor, Wilkes-Barre, 22

DOH responds to concerns; changes the way nursing home data reported