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Representative of Pine Ridge nursing home say deaths not caused by lack of staff or winter storm

The Dispatch - 1/24/2022

Jan. 25—A representative for a Thomasville nursing home under investigation claimed on Monday that two deaths discovered by first responders last week were not caused by a lack of staff and were unrelated to the winter storm.

"It has been implied that the deaths of these residents were discovered when EMS crews arrived at the facility on Sunday evening. That is not accurate. ... Our medical director has indicated the deaths were medically unrelated to any staffing issues caused by the winter storm," noted a representative of Principal Long Term Care, the parent company of Pine Ridge Health and Rehabilitation, in an email.

The written statement released on Monday also noted that staff began making arrangements about removing the deceased with local funeral homes "well before EMS arrived" at the facility and that hazardous road conditions prevented the funeral home from immediately traveling to Pine Ridge.

In an email that included the statement, the company noted they are not granting interviews to the media and they made no mention of the two people who were determined by first responders to be in "critical condition" and transferred to local hospitals. Law enforcement recently stated one of the patients had been released and would be relocated to another facility. The condition of the second patient wasn't immediately available Monday afternoon.

On Jan. 16, Thomasville Police Department conducted a welfare check at Pine Ridge Health and Rehabilitation and found three employees — one licensed practical nurse and two certified nursing assistants — serving 98 patients at the nursing home.

While first responders were going door to door assessing the residents, two patients were found dead, and two others were deemed in "serious condition" and transferred to local hospitals. Emergency personnel remained at the facility until Monday morning to ensure patients received care.

The Thomasville Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation are looking into whether any criminal charges are warranted pending autopsy results.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is currently overseeing operations at the facility. The NCDHHS Division of Health Service Regulation are in the process of investigating whether the nursing home was in compliance with state requirements for the safety and welfare of its patients

The representative from Principal LTC stated that they are fully cooperating with all investigations by local and state law enforcement, as well as the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM.

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