State To Close Three Rivers Nursing Home in Norwich: Senator

NORWICH, CT — The state Department of Public Health will be closing Three Rivers Nursing Home in Norwich, the Office of State Senator Cathy Osten confirmed on Wednesday. Osten represents Norwich.

The shutdown follows an investigation of a widespread coronavirus outbreak at the facility which left five of the residents dead from COVID-19, and at least 21 residents and six staff infected with the virus. The fifth death was confirmed Wednesday by Osten's office in an email to Patch.

This latest disciplinary action falls swiftly on the heels of the DPH announcing Monday it would be appointing a temporary manager for the facility. That was the first time since 2006 that DPH had appointed a temporary manager for a Connecticut Nursing Home.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Acting DPH commissioner Deidre Gifford said that the temporary manager determined that deficiencies at the facility posed a serious threat to the health and safety of the patients and staff, leading her to make the recommendation to close the facility.

"Given the scope of the facility's serious deficiencies, we have concluded that the facility cannot be brought into compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements by the time period permitted under federal law," Gifford said.

The DPH investigation began Aug. 17, and has included daily on-site visits, reviews of facility records, and interviews with multiple residents and staff at Three Rivers.

"After weeks of communicating my concerns to the administration about this privately run, for-profit facility, I am glad that Connecticut has made the decision to shut down Three Rivers Healthcare for the protection of the staff and the patients there," Osten said. "I know the state has been investigating various nursing homes across Connecticut for months now, and it is my hope that we will not see a repeat anywhere of the lax infection control procedures, the understaffing and the lack of staff training like we have seen at Three Rivers... I believe their deaths are inexcusable and were totally preventable had proper precautions been taken and standard coronavirus procedures been followed."

Related: 1 Dead Following Norwich Nursing Home Coronavirus Outbreak

• CT Health Dept. Appoints Manager To Oversee Norwich Nursing Home
• CT Coronavirus Updates: 3 New Nursing Home Deaths Reported

On Aug. 31, DPH issued a statement of deficiency for the facility. The investigation revealed that the COVID-19 outbreak began on July 24, when a staff member tested positive through routine weekly testing. There were serious violations found facility-wide in general infection control practices, staffing, cohorting (grouping together) residents who tested positive, and use of personal protective equipment.