Westmoreland Manor sees administrative changes as coronavirus cases creep higher

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to rock Westmoreland Manor, the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield, leaders on Monday announced a change to the facility’s administration.

According to a news release, county commissioners said Assistant Administrator Abby Testa was named the Manor’s acting interim administrator, effective Oct. 2.

“At this time, all other Westmoreland Manor personnel and administrative functions remain unchanged,” commissioners said in the brief, two-paragraph statement.

The announcement did not give a reason for the change.

Commissioners Sean Kertes and Gina Cerilli referred all questions to county solicitor Melissa Guiddy, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Testa takes over for Angela Knauff, who was hired in February 2019 to oversee the 408-bed Manor. Knauff was not a county employee and was on the payroll of Premier Healthcare Resources, the private Penn Township-based firm hired to operate the nursing home.

The administrative change comes as the Manor continues to struggle to contain the ongoing outbreak that, since mid-September, has seen 86 patients and 28 staffers diagnosed with coronavirus.

The county announced that three more residents tested positive Monday. With the new infections, more than 25% of the Manor’s 336 residents have now been diagnosed with the virus.

Commissioners called the Pennsylvania National Guard to assist with ongoing testing at the Manor. Cerilli said the guard, originally expected to spend three days at the nursing home, is slated to stay on through Oct. 12.