Sackville’s Drew Nursing Home has lowest rate of inappropriate anti-psychotic use in province
New Brunswick nursing homes have the third highest use of antipsychotics deemed “potentially inappropriate” compared to their provincial counterparts, according to research done by the Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI). But a Sackville nursing home stands out for its low “potentially inappropriate”use of the drugs.
CIHI looked into how many people living in long term care homes were taking antipsychotic drugs without a diagnosis of psychosis. Antipsychotics are sometimes used to help control patients with behavioural challenges brought on by conditions like dementia. But those uses can pose added risks, such as an increase in falls, says Drew Nursing Home director, Linda Shannon. “Use of antipsychotics for dementia is what normally is not appropriate,” says Shannon. “It’s not a good use of an antipsychotic.”
CIHI found rates of potentially inappropriate use in New Brunswick ranging from 71.4% at Villa St-Joseph in Tracadie, to 7.3% at the Drew Nursing Home in Sackville. The average rate in New Brunswick was 30.3%, above the national average of 22%.
Shannon says the reason for the low rate of inappropriate use at the Drew could have something to do with the resources in the nursing home, which accommodates up to 118 residents.
“The big reason that our use of antipsychotic is low at the Drew is because we have a nurse practitioner here four and a half days a week,” says Shannon. “Our nurse practitioner evaluates every resident as they come in, sometimes they may not be on an appropriate use of an antipsychotic.… Continue
Mitton calls for investigation, but Drew chair calls for a “pause” on reviewing what’s happened
Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton is calling for a formal, independent investigation into the the outbreak of COVID-19 at the Drew Nursing home in Sackville.
“We’ve had eight deaths at the Drew Nursing Home,” says Mitton, extending condolences to those who lost loved ones. “We’ve had many residents and staff who have contracted the virus. And so the thing is, we need to know whether the government’s response was adequate, and what went wrong here.”
Catherine Gaw is the chair of the board for the United Church Home for Senior Citizens, which operates the Drew Nursing Home. Gaw issued a press statement on Wednesday outlining the situation and calling for a “pause” on scrutinizing what’s happened.
“At this point in time we would urge everyone to push pause on any calls for a review of the process,” writes Gaw. “Please know that the Executive Director, Linda Shannon, is in regular meetings with medical and government officials and the workings of the response efforts are monitored constantly. The important thing is to support the ongoing efforts to bring this outbreak to a resolution.”
It’s been just over a month since the first case in the outbreak was discovered at the Drew on September 13. According to accounts from staff, Public Health did not complete testing on all staff and residents until five days later, on Saturday, September 18.… Continue
UPDATE: Five cases at Drew Nursing Home this week
[Updated 7am Friday, changes in bold]
There’s an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Drew Nursing Home in Sackville. Mike Keating, interim director of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, confirmed that five cases have been diagnosed this week, two in residents and three in employees.
The first case was found earlier this week and prompted two rounds of mandatory testing for residents and staff so far. The first round yielded all negative results, but the second round conducted Wednesday found two positive cases in residents of the home. Another two positive cases in employees were reported Thursday.
Keating says the two residents are, “suffering mild symptoms at this time, but of course they are compromised people having to live in a nursing home.”
The Drew has put in pandemic protocols and restrictions “until such time as they an get the situation under control,” says Keating. He wasn’t certain if the province had dispatched a Provincial Rapid Outbreak Management team (PROMT) to the Drew, but there’s been two rounds of testing so far, and more will come. “I know the protocol is to continue the testing for residents and employees until there’s no longer a risk,” says Keating.
The Drew is currently locked down with no visitors allowed, and PPE protocols in place. Keating says that will continue until the home is satisfied that the risk is gone.… Continue