Glendale care facility posts COVID-19 data, reports nearly 100 cases
May 18, 2020, 1:30 PM | Updated: 10:10 pm
(YouTube Screenshot/Glencroft)
PHOENIX – The state of Arizona has refused to say which long-term care facilities have coronavirus cases, but a West Valley venue has decided to go public with its data.
The Glencroft Center for Modern Aging in Glendale on Monday posted a COVID-19 dashboard, revealing nearly 100 cases among residents and staff, with 16 deaths.
“It’s so easy for mixed information to get out and about, and we want everybody to have the same information at the same time,” Millie Oakeson, vice president of corporate marketing for Glencroft, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
The data posted Monday was through Friday. Oakeson said Glencroft will update the dashboard each business day with data through the previous business day, meaning Tuesday’s report will reflect the statistics including the weekend and Monday.
Glencroft has more than 800 residents on campus near 67th and Northern avenues in assisted living, skilled nursing and independent living units, with more than 500 employees, according to initial data.
The report showed 56 residents and 42 employees having tested positive for COVID-19. All of the fatalities have been residents.
Of those infected, 51 are classified as recovered.
The skilled nursing unit has experienced the worst outbreak, with 42 cases and 11 deaths among its 144 residents.
The coronavirus has hit nursing homes and other long-term care facilities hard across the state, U.S. and world. Residents live in close quarters, which can allow the virus to easily spread, and are at high risk of serious symptoms and death if infected because of underlying health conditions.
Last week, Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said the state is coordinating coronavirus tests for all long-term care patients and staff.
State officials have cited Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) regulations as a reason they can’t reveal which long-term care facilities have COVID-19 cases.
Gov. Doug Ducey has said facilities must notify residents and staff about cases and let newly accepted residents know before they move in.
However, Oakeson said releasing Glencroft’s numbers doesn’t violate HIPAA.
“We’re not giving the names of anybody. We’re not giving any personal information about anybody,” she said. “That would be a HIPAA violation.”
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ali Vetnar contributed to this report.