GOLDEN HILL AND OUR HEALTH

Most of us are aware of the incidence of Legionnaires' disease at the Golden Hill Nursing facility in Kingston. In the last several days, the authorities and health officials have gone through the building and grounds to look for the source and the means to eradicate the bacteria.

I attended the quickly called meeting of the Health & Human Services Committee (HHS) a few days ago and left with a renewed sense of confidence in our health staff and diminished fears of what the future hold for the current residents.

You've heard about the hot-water flush they have done to the domestic water pipes. It was one of very few options to achieve this goal, it's also the least threatening to the water system that is already well past it's prime. Because of the weak pipes throughout the building, Lowe Plumbing was called in to have personnel stationed with equipment on the ready to shut down any leaks that may occur when the flush is done.

We know 17 of the 32 samples taken from locations throughout the facility revealed evidence of the bacteria. But we were also informed at the meeting, that Legionella is not that uncommon in New York State. Anywhere that water is transported through long distance pipes at mild temperatures is susceptible to contaminants. Hot water pipes in at Golden Hill travel as far as 400 feet from the water heater. Legionella, like other forms of Pneumonia, take hold and cause harm in persons with compromised health immunities.

The name of the disease stems from the original cases in the 70's where the American Legion Hall was frequented by the elderly and thus fertile ground to cause an epidemic. The situation is similar here in that clients at Golden Hill are more susceptible than the general public. Persons with compromised health situations anywhere are more susceptible to complications from exposure.

One client at Golden Hill passed away recently and, although not the cause of death, Legionella was present in the client's system. Thus, tests were done on anyone with respiratory ailments and another was discovered. I understand that when only one person is afflicted with Legionella at any one location, it usually goes unannounced throughout the state. Only when there are two or more, does the New York State officials get involved at this level.

I should also point out that not only have the Golden Hill staff been terrific in their handling of this issue, but the fact that Health Director La Mar Hasbrouck is an actual MD which provided such a wealth of insight and training during what could have been a bigger disaster.

The City of Kingston Water Department does monthly testing of the water at the facility, taken at several random locations during the year, but they do no have the ability to test for Legionella. This too will change. Only hours after the incident was confirmed, KWD offered as solution to the problem. A little late I'd say. Other means will be instituted for the continued testing of the water.

This will no doubt spur the conversation once again about what the county should do about it's ancient Health Care Campus and whether the county should be in the health care business at all. The service is high quality, but the cost to the taxpayer will continue to increase until the federal government provides a clearer message as to where funding sources and insurance payments will come from.

What struck me was at one point someone said: "We are going to flush the new wing first". The age of the new wing? Early 70's.
It's still called the new wing! Good grief.