The Wyoming Department of Health conducted a complaint and COVID-19-focused infection control and prevention survey of the Powell Valley Care Center.

The evaluation was completed Sept. 25 and found no deficiencies in the center’s practices; it was later determined the complaint was the result of an inaccuracy in the state’s records.

Powell Valley Healthcare COO Nicole Ostermiller said when these surveys are done, the provider isn’t told the nature of the complaint.

“We usually know from the path they’re taking with the evaluation,” Ostermiller said.

Based on what the evaluator was looking at, the care center could determine the department was looking into its COVID infection and prevention measures. Among other things, they looked at how the center screened its employees, if they were logging temperatures on every shift, and the results of the weekly tests they administer to all employees for COVID.

“It was determined, based on the findings of the survey team, that no deficiencies were identified pertaining to the complaint investigation,” read the comments in a Department of Health (DOH) survey document. The evaluation of the infection control survey came to the same conclusion.

In September, a staff member at the center tested positive for COVID. The center was immediately closed to all visitors and all residents were tested. No more positive tests came out of that round of testing.

After the DOH completed its evaluation, an exit surveyor explained that the survey was prompted by the dates of the positive test, which didn’t match up the department’s records.

“They were thinking we were delaying the report of a staff member who tested positive for COVID,” Ostermiller said.

Later, it was determined that the department’s records were inaccurate.

“They discovered the mistake was on their end,” Ostermiller said.

Long-term care facilities have had to be extremely careful during the pandemic, as the elderly are at very high risk of developing complications from the disease.

For example, 10 out of 33 residents who became infected at the New Horizons Care Center in Lovell died in the last month, while six residents at the Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Worland died after contracting the disease in May and June.

Neither the care center nor PVHC’s assisted living facility, The Heartland, have had any outbreaks.