Empathy List Archives

disasterrelief@lists.imla.org

Texas nursing homes

Stephanie Harris

Mon, Apr 27, 2020 11:26 PM

We have had an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at a local nursing home. We have an almost 100% infection rate of residents, and at least 14 infected staff. (Our local confirmed cases went from 8 to 57 since Friday afternoon.) One of these staff members has been moonlighting at another, much larger facility. The larger facility is refusing to test its staff and residents. The local health department has no regulatory authority over the nursing home. I have been tasked with trying to get the state motivated to take action against the larger facility, and I don't have any idea of where to start. It looks like DADS regulates nursing homes, but do they have the regulatory authority to require wholesale testing on the basis of a COVID-19 positive part time employee?

I'm looking for help wherever I can find it.

Thanks in advance...

Stephanie H. Harris
City Attorney
City of Paris, Texas
135 1st St. SE
Paris, Texas 75460
(903) 784-9258
sharris@paristexas.gov

Kevin D. Pagan

Tue, Apr 28, 2020 2:19 AM

If your County or City have declared an emergency you could try having the Mayor or Judge issue an order requiring the testing.

Or the County health authority.

Worth a try.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 27, 2020, at 6:27 PM, Stephanie Harris sharris@paristexas.gov wrote:

We have had an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at a local nursing home. We have an almost 100% infection rate of residents, and at least 14 infected staff. (Our local confirmed cases went from 8 to 57 since Friday afternoon.) One of these staff members has been moonlighting at another, much larger facility. The larger facility is refusing to test its staff and residents. The local health department has no regulatory authority over the nursing home. I have been tasked with trying to get the state motivated to take action against the larger facility, and I don’t have any idea of where to start. It looks like DADS regulates nursing homes, but do they have the regulatory authority to require wholesale testing on the basis of a COVID-19 positive part time employee?

I’m looking for help wherever I can find it.

Thanks in advance…

Stephanie H. Harris
City Attorney
City of Paris, Texas
135 1st St. SE
Paris, Texas 75460
(903) 784-9258
sharris@paristexas.gov

Disasterrelief mailing list
Disasterrelief@lists.imla.org
http://lists.imla.org/mailman/listinfo/disasterrelief_lists.imla.org
[https://www.mcallen.net/images/default-source/default-album/2020-census-logo.png] https://www.mcallen.net/census2020/

Disclaimer: If you are not the intended recipient or have received this e-mail in error, please notify me via return e-mail and telephone at 956-681-3111, and permanently delete and purge the original and any copy thereof. This e-mail, with attachments hereto, if any, is intended only for receipt and use by the addressee(s) named herein, and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. Regardless of address or routing, if you are not the intended recipient, then you are hereby notified that any use, copying, reproduction, dissemination, distribution, or transmission of this e-mail, and any attachments hereto, is strictly prohibited. Whereas all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the accuracy and confidentiality of the information and data submitted herein, the City of McAllen and its employees are not liable if information or data is corrupted or does not reach its intended destination.

If your County or City have declared an emergency you could try having the Mayor or Judge issue an order requiring the testing. Or the County health authority. Worth a try. Sent from my iPhone On Apr 27, 2020, at 6:27 PM, Stephanie Harris <sharris@paristexas.gov> wrote: We have had an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at a local nursing home. We have an almost 100% infection rate of residents, and at least 14 infected staff. (Our local confirmed cases went from 8 to 57 since Friday afternoon.) One of these staff members has been moonlighting at another, much larger facility. The larger facility is refusing to test its staff and residents. The local health department has no regulatory authority over the nursing home. I have been tasked with trying to get the state motivated to take action against the larger facility, and I don’t have any idea of where to start. It looks like DADS regulates nursing homes, but do they have the regulatory authority to require wholesale testing on the basis of a COVID-19 positive part time employee? I’m looking for help wherever I can find it. Thanks in advance… Stephanie H. Harris City Attorney City of Paris, Texas 135 1st St. SE Paris, Texas 75460 (903) 784-9258 sharris@paristexas.gov _______________________________________________ Disasterrelief mailing list Disasterrelief@lists.imla.org http://lists.imla.org/mailman/listinfo/disasterrelief_lists.imla.org [https://www.mcallen.net/images/default-source/default-album/2020-census-logo.png] <https://www.mcallen.net/census2020/> Disclaimer: If you are not the intended recipient or have received this e-mail in error, please notify me via return e-mail and telephone at 956-681-3111, and permanently delete and purge the original and any copy thereof. This e-mail, with attachments hereto, if any, is intended only for receipt and use by the addressee(s) named herein, and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. Regardless of address or routing, if you are not the intended recipient, then you are hereby notified that any use, copying, reproduction, dissemination, distribution, or transmission of this e-mail, and any attachments hereto, is strictly prohibited. Whereas all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the accuracy and confidentiality of the information and data submitted herein, the City of McAllen and its employees are not liable if information or data is corrupted or does not reach its intended destination.