Providence Health to open facility for recovering COVID-19 patients

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Providence Health plans to open a 10-bed facility for nursing home residents recovering from hospitalization for COVID-19 at its downtown Columbia location next month.

The unit will be available for patients whose symptoms have subsided but who still test positive for the virus, according to a news release. The facility will provide short-term rehabilitation before patients return to their long-term community residences.

“This unit will provide services key to the patient’s recovery and rehabilitation, including pharmacy, skilled nursing care, physical rehabilitation, wound care, dialysis, and dietary, and it will also provide peace of mind for families and patients wondering what happens if the COVID test continues to be positive,” Maria Calloway, registered nurse and chief nursing officer for Providence Health, said in the release.

The facility will be a collaborative effort with Prisma Health. Beds will be available by mid-June, according to Providence Health.

“In our community, skilled nursing facilities are challenged by their limited infrastructure to isolate and care for COVID-19 patients,” Angela Orsky, registered nurse and vice president of post-acute services for Prisma Health, said. “The addition of these skilled nursing beds creates a bridge between acute care and rehabilitation needs, enabling these patients to fully recover and safely return to their residence.”