Administrator appointed to Merritt care home to 'stabilize' operations | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kamloops News

Administrator appointed to Merritt care home to 'stabilize' operations

Interior Health will be overseeing operations at The Florentine in Merritt after it failed to meet standards of care for residents.

Interior Health’s Board of Directors has appointed an administrator to manage the day-to-day operations of the long-term care home, according to Interior Health's press release.

The Florentine has ongoing challenges with its site leadership, care planning, staff education and training and reporting, according to Interior Health.

The appointment is full-time, effective immediately and will last for four months subject to adjustments if conditions warrant, according to the health authority.

Interior Health announced that a COVID-19 outbreak at the care home was over last week. It was initially declared Feb. 18.

READ MORE: Outbreak declared over at Merritt care home

The board’s decision was based on a recommendation from Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Carol Fenton.

“I strongly support the decision by the Interior Health Board of Directors to appoint an administrator,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix, in the press release. “We have and will continue to put the care and safety of seniors first before any other consideration, which is what is happening here.”

After regular inspections by Interior Health’s Licensing and Quality department, Dr. Fenton determined the operator of the long-term care facility was unable to meet the legislated standards of care for residents.

Matt Renfrew has been appointed as administrator and has experience managing the Overlander long-term care home in Kamloops since 2013. He is currently Interior Health’s interim director of clinical operations for Community Seniors Care, according to the health authority.

“Recommending the appointment of an administrator is an option reserved as a last resort solution to ensure people get the standard of care they need,” said Interior Health chief medical health officer, Dr. Albert de Villiers, in the press release. “I am confident that with the appointment of Matt Renfrew as administrator, Interior Health will be able to stabilize The Florentine’s operations and set it down a path towards improved conditions for its residents, staff and leadership alike.”

The Florentine is a privately owned, long-term care home with 20 independently funded beds. The assisted living section of the site falls under the jurisdiction of the Assisted Living Registrar and is not subject to the administration process being applied to the long-term care section of this care home.


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