Majority of NY Nursing Homes Surveyed in Violation
Department of Health Cracks Regulatory Whip
By Kelli M. Donley
Following requirements set by the Center for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS), the New York State Department of Health surveyed 63
nursing homes in March. The unannounced inspections resulted in 57 facilities
receiving statements of deficiencies and six fines for violations in resident
care and services.
CMS requires state health departments to conduct one unannounced survey
within 15 months of a previous survey. Those facilities not in compliance are
issued statements of deficiencies. Administrators must submit a plan of
correction to the department and work immediately to correct the lapse. The plan
must include information on what will be done to correct the violation and how
the change will be monitored to ensure efficacy.
The department graded facilities on a six-tiered scale: in compliance,
substantial compliance, corrections needed, significant corrections needed,
substandard quality of care or immediate jeopardy.
Of the 63 facilities surveyed, the following were in compliance with state
regulations: The Waters of Dunkrik, Chautauqua; Penfield Place, Monroe; Lawrence
Nursing Care Center, Queens; Daleview Nursing Home, Suffolk; McAuley Residence,
Erie County; and Schofield Residence, Erie County.
There were 36 facilities given a correction-needed rating. This status, one
industry expert says, is a matter of minor changes and paperwork.
"The surveyors will find little things and they will write them
up," says Dr. Bruce Hurwitz, director of development for Morningside House
Nursing Home. "When it is something that is big they come back in and make
sure whatever was wrong has been corrected and that residents are no longer
placed in danger. But in cases like ours, where you see a plan of correction
filed and the facility is now in compliance, it means it was all paperwork. It
was a little thing and nothing to lose sleep over. For significant violations,
surveyors will come back and check."
Morningside House was cited in March for having corrections needed, but
administrators have made a few changes and the facility is now ranked in
compliance.
"One of the things on our survey was a closet door that had a broken
hinge," says Hurwitz. "The surveyor noticed it and we immediately
showed her that a work order had been put through to have the door repaired. The
door has since been repaired."
Among those facilities surveyed, one was determined to be in immediate
jeopardy -- Teresian House Nursing Home in Albany. Officials at the facility did
not return phone calls before press time.
Hurwitz says the surveying process is essential in monitoring the health of
seniors.
"The surveyors come in and they are professionals," he says. They
speak with residents and family members. You will find many who criticize the
state, but I am not one of them. They have a tough job to do and hopefully
they're doing it well.
There are 685 nursing homes in the state of New York.
For a complete list of facilities surveyed and their ratings, visit: www.health.state.ny.us.
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