Provincial agreement gives Hamilton Health Sciences temporary management responsibility for Grace Villa Long-Term Care home
NEWS RELEASE
December 16, 2020
HAMILTON, ON – Effective immediately, Hamilton Health Sciences is assuming temporary management responsibility of Grace Villa Long-Term Care home, in accordance with a voluntary management agreement approved by the Ministry of Long-Term Care.
The provincial management agreement gives HHS management and operational oversight at Grace Villa, to manage the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and stabilize the situation in the home. This will be done with the support of, and in partnership with, Grace Villa’s leadership, staff and physicians. The contract was entered into amicably by all parties.
HHS has been working closely with Grace Villa’s team since a Hamilton Public Health order was issued on November 28, in response to an outbreak at the home.
To date, this includes providing administrative and clinical expertise to support infection prevention and control practices, testing of residents and staff, direct care to residents, and support services, such as environmental housekeeping and nutrition resources.
A staff and resourcing assessment for the deployment is currently underway at the hospital.
QUOTES
“COVID-19 has had challenging and difficult impacts for patients and health-care providers, particularly for those working and living in long-term care. Our partners across the sector, including the team at Grace Villa, have been working very hard to limit the spread and keep their residents safe. This agreement allows us to expand our role at Grace Villa and build up the capacity needed to manage and stabilize the situation. We’re grateful for our staff and physicians who continue to answer the call to serve the most vulnerable in our community, both inside and outside of our hospital walls.”
Sharon Pierson, EVP, Clinical Operations, and Chief Operating Officer, Hamilton Health Sciences
“Our focus remains on keeping our residents and staff safe. Our team has done great work to achieve this goal and we appreciate all of their efforts. We’re thankful to the staff and physicians from Hamilton Health Sciences who have been working alongside our team over the past few weeks. We look forward to working together with HHS over the coming months to control this outbreak and return the home to normal operations, for our residents and their families, and our staff.”
Mary Raithby, CEO, APANS Health Services, Operator of Grace Villa Long-Term Care home
RESOURCES
• Ministry of Health news release
• Hamilton Health Sciences has been supporting and partnering with long-term care facilities throughout the pandemic. Read more.
CONTACT
Veronica Magee
HHS Communications & Public Affairs
mageev@hhsc.ca