Nursing home fatalities disclosed

Health admins refused to share deaths for weeks

Florida health administrators Friday released detailed information about coronavirus fatalities at long-term care facilities in the state after more than a month of refusing to discuss the virus’ toll. But as has been the case throughout the pandemic, the new numbers raise questions about their reliability.

The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis disclosed the fatality numbers after several news organizations, including the Miami Herald and South Florida Sun Sentinel, filed suit under the state’s public records law to force the data’s release — and in the wake of withering pressure from elder advocates and the families of longterm care residents who have been isolated in nursing homes and assisted living facilities for a month.

The data show that nursing homes and assisted living facilities have accounted for one in three coronavirus deaths in the state.

Problems immediately emerged with what was released. For example, more than a month ago, administrators at the 180-bed Atria Willow Wood ALF in Fort Lauderdale confirmed that at least six residents had died of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. But the chart released Friday includes only three resident deaths as confirmed, while three remained “under investigation.”

Some of the data raised eyebrows. One nursing home in the Panhandle, the 210-bed Southern Oaks Care Center, was reported to have had three resident deaths — though recent data from health administrators showed 94 residents of the Pensacola home had been infected. That would mean that 3% of the home’s residents who contract the disease succumb to it. Based on previous data, 40% to 50% of long-term care residents infected with the virus die.

Another anomaly: Among the 152 nursing homes and ALFs that have reported at least one death from COVID-19, four were not listed on the state’s most recent list of positive cases at long-term care facilities. Three deaths were associated with an unknown facility.

One nursing home, the Coquina Center in Ormond Beach, reported nine resident deaths. It did not appear on the most recent list of facilities with current cases, but had reported as recently as Monday

that 15 current residents had COVID-19, 11 more positive residents had been transferred out and nine staffers were infected.

Spokespeople for DeSantis and his two health agencies — the Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration — declined to discuss discrepancies within the data with the Miami Herald Friday afternoon. When asked by a reporter to discuss the numbers, a DOH spokesman wrote: “Questions received. We are looking into this.”

According to Friday’s release, three nursing homes have suffered the greatest losses: Braden River Rehabilitation Center in Bradenton, Suwannee Health and Rehabilitation Center in Live Oak and Seminole Pavilion Rehabilitation and Nursing Services in Seminole all have reported 13 resident deaths and one death among staff members.

Miami Jewish Health Systems, which operates an enormous elder-care facility with 438 beds at 5200 NE Second Ave., has reported more deaths from COVID-19 than any other facility in South Florida. According to the state, eight residents have died there.

South Florida, which has been the epicenter of COVID-19 infections in the state, accounted for nearly half of all deaths at elder care facilities. MiamiDade County, with 95 verified deaths, topped the list, followed by Broward County, at 53, and Palm Beach at 52.

The Fountain Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center, a 146-bed nursing home in North Miami, reported seven resident deaths. Unity Health And Rehabilitation, a 270-bed nursing home in Miami, reported seven resident deaths.