Interior Health has appointed a full-time administrator to manage the day-to-day long-term care operations of The Florentine in Merritt.
Matt Renfrew, who has managed the Overlander long term care home in Kamloops since 2013, will be taking over for at least four-months, the health authority said today.
Renfrew is also Interior Health’s interim director of clinical operations for Community Seniors Care. His appointment comes on a recommendation from Medical Health Officer, Dr. Carol Fenton. That decision was made after regular inspections by Interior Health’s Licensing and Quality department, which found the operator of The Florentine was unable to meet the legislated standards of care for residents.
This move comes four days after a month-long COVID-19 outbreak at the facility that affected two residents was declared over, though IH Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Albert de Villiers, says these changes are not related to that outbreak.
“To be honest, I would see it as a complete coincidence. We’ve been going down this path of progressive compliance for a while,” he said. “We’ve been meeting with the owner and with a manager for quite a while before the outbreak happened. So the issues identified there started before COVID was here.”
“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.”
In a statement, Interior Health says The Florentine has had ongoing challenges with its site leadership, care planning, staff education and training, and reporting.
“This decision is based on ensuring seniors who live in long-term care receive the high quality, safe and dignified care they need,” said IH board chair Dr. Doug Cochrane. “Interior Health’s board of directors has full confidence in the decision presented by staff and it is our top priority to ensure The Florentine is brought into legislative compliance.”
The Florentine is a privately owned, long-term care home with with 62 total beds – 38 for assisted living and 24 for long-term care residents. Twenty of those long-term care beds are privately operated. The assisted living section falls under the jurisdiction of the Assisted Living Registrar and is not subject to the administration process on the long-term care section of The Florentine.
Renfrew will be responsible for the operation and management of the care home on Belshaw St. including care planning and delivery, management of the site, recruitment of staff, and making sure the facility is complaint with the legislated standards of care.
“It’ll just go better from now on. Under staff specifically, we’re there to support them as well,” de Villiers added. “This will not result in fewer jobs. The residents will still be cared for, and their loved ones will still be able to get questions from the staff.”
“Interior Health licensing has legislative authority over all long-term care facilities, whether they are privately or publicly operated. The bottom line is that the safe care of all residents in care is really the highest priority.”
