PORTLAND, Ore. — A Southeast Portland nursing home where at least 28 people have died of COVID-19 has been shut down by the state for the time being.
Residents of Healthcare at Foster Creek are being relocated, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management said Tuesday afternoon.
The Department of Human Services issued an emergency suspension of Healthcare at Foster Creek's license to operate a nursing facility after at least 117 people there tested positive for COVID-19.
“We have worked on multiple strategies to contain the COVID-19 outbreak at Healthcare at Foster Creek and have concluded that moving all residents is mandatory at this stage,” said Mike McCormick, interim director of the DHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. “Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by COVID-19 at this facility and our focus now is on providing a smooth transition for residents and their families.”
In April, the DHS filed a scathing review of the conditions at the nursing home, located at 6003 SE 136th Ave.
Officials saw numerous safety violations, including but not limited to staff not washing their hands, staff being limited to using one mask per shift, staff not being screened before entering the facility, no overnight housekeeping, and care plans not being updated for at least two residents who had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Staff at the home told DHS officials they received no training regarding COVID-19 and preventing the spread of the virus.
According to records from the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an employee at Healthcare at Foster Creek alerted the agency on March 30 about concerning conditions.
“Employees lack proper PPE to do their job. Nursing Director suggested for employees to swap their face masks and/or use another employees’ face mask,” the OSHA complaint alleged.
The complaint also described how an employee was exposed to COVID-19, but not tested.
Editor's note: the video in this story aired on April 29, 2020.