Chosen Healthcare officials have agreed to cancel a plan to transfer in to Vincennes’ Willow Manor 13 non-COVID residents from a facility which has COVID-positive patients and staff in New Albany, Indiana. That decision came after a meeting with Knox County officials, including Knox County Health Officer Dr. Alan Stewart.
As a precaution, the Knox County Health Department did file a petition for a preliminary and permanent injunction against Chosen Healthcare, to ensure that such a transfer from New Albany would not be allowed to happen. Knox Circuit Court Judge Sherry Gregg Gilmore signed off on the temporary restraining order portion of the petition late Friday afternoon.
Dr. Stewart said he cares deeply for the 13 people who were scheduled to be transferred from New Albany to Vincennes. But he said it is not good medicne to transfer them in to a different health district to a facility that is currently COVID-free. Before becoming Knox County’s Health Officer,
Dr. Stewart served as the medical director at Willow Manor for 34 years in addition to having a private practice.