Life Care Center of Copper Basin is currently working with state surveyors and the Tennessee Department of Health to determine any needed changes at the facility following a recent survey, which revealed several issues at the facility.
“We consider ourselves partners with the state and take each survey visit seriously,” Executive Director Joshua Lee said. “We recently received some tags on our survey, and we are working with the surveyors and the Tennessee Department of Health to determine any needed changes.”
News broke in late July that multiple employees and residents within the facility had tested positive for COVID-19, and a resident’s relative shared photos displaying a lack of mask use among employees when interacting with patients.
At that time, Lee released a statement explaining that the photos were being reviewed, but that they appeared to “span different time frames.” Lee believed some of them were not recent and did not represent current practices at the facility.
“Where corrections in our practices are needed, we will be providing additional education to our staff members,” Lee said in July.
Tennessee Department of Health’s long-term care facility data shows that, of the 62 residents included on their census, 49 have tested positive with COVID-19, nine have died as a result and 27 members of the staff have also tested positive for the virus.
According to Lee, the facility has fully recovered from COVID-19 as of August 24. He said, “At Life Care Center of Copper Basin, residents are our highest priority. Our goal is – and always has been – providing quality care.”
The facility is located at 166 Copper Basin Industrial Park in Ducktown.