North Central Health Care to Assist Regional Healthcare Systems in the Battle Against Covid-19
For Immediate Release: December 20, 2021
NCHC Nursing Homes in Wausau and Merrill to admit Covid-recovered patients from regional healthcare facilities
(December 20, 2021, Wausau, WI) – As part of ongoing efforts to serve our Central Wisconsin communities, North Central Health Care (NCHC) in partnership with the North Central Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition (NCW HERC) is seeking options to support health systems and partners in the region to alleviate the growing pressures mounting from surging Covid-19 hospitalizations amid industry-wide staffing shortages. Wisconsin saw its highest level of Covid-19 hospitalizations last week, since January of 2021 according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
In partnership with NCW HERC, NCHC is actively working with Aspirus Health and Marshfield Health systems to admit up to four Covid-recovered patients per day into Mount View Care Center in Wausau or Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. These Covid-recovered patients would be discharged from the hospital and continue to receive skilled nursing care within NCHC’s current operations, however they would not pose a Covid-19 transmission risk to current nursing home residents as they would be outside their quarantine or isolation periods. Additional care units have not been opened as newly admitted patients would utilize the open beds at both facilities.
“North Central Health Care operates two of the largest nursing homes in the Central Wisconsin region and as a healthcare provider it is our duty to continue to explore options that will assist our local and regional medical partners during this ongoing pandemic. Our NCHC staff have shown their dedication and ability to care for those with complex medical needs and will continue to provide outstanding care for those recovering from Covid-19,” states Jill Meschke, Interim CEO at NCHC. “We will continue ongoing communication with HERC, WEAVR and our healthcare partners to ensure we remain flexible in this quickly evolving situation. Our goal is to help patients recover and get back to their homes, families and communities while relieving the pressure on our healthcare systems so they focus efforts on providing care to those who are in greatest need of hospitalization and medical care.”
NCHC has also been in contact with Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry (WEAVR) to place a short-term staffing request for Mount View Care Center and Pine Crest Nursing Home in the event that additional staffing would be required to continue operations with the additional resident admissions.
“NCHC is exploring the possibility of opening additional units within its facilities that would admit approximately 15 to 20 additional patients at each skilled nursing home, however until WEAVR short-term staffing is secured, those additional units will not be opened due to the increased staffing requirements,” states Jarret Nickel, Chief Operating Officer at NCHC. ”If this decompression support becomes viable, the WEAVR program would provide short-term staffing that would be available for up to eight weeks.”
NCHC currently provides ventilator-dependent skilled nursing care at Mount View Care Center, however no additional ventilator-dependent beds or units would be added due to the additional specialized staffing that would be required to operate the units. Mount View Care Center is licensed to provide care for 154 residents and Pine Crest for 120 residents. Between the two facilities, there is currently an opportunity to provide care for an additional 50 patients in the existing operational structure.
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North Central Health Care provides compassionate, high-quality care for individuals and families with mental health, recovery and skilled nursing needs in Marathon, Langlade and Lincoln counties. Services are provided for mental health, substance abuse, crisis, developmental disabilities, adult protection, aquatic physical therapy and skilled nursing care. North Central Health Care operates two skilled nursing facilities, Mount View Care Center in Wausau and Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
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Media contact:
North Central Health Care
Jessica Meadows, Public Information Officer
Marketing & Communications Director
1100 Lake View Drive • Wausau, WI 54403
715.370.1547 jmeadows@norcen.org www.norcen.org