Complete list of problem nursing homes released
After releasing a list of the 54 worst nursing homes in America, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released an additional 59 names of problem nursing homes with troubling inspection records. Although they initial resisted releasing the complete list, there are now 113 nursing homes publicly identified nationwide as facilities which have had consistent problems with the quality of care they provide.
>>PRIOR POST (1/11/08): Senators push for release of complete list of
bad nursing homes
In November 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that they were tracking a group of nursing homes which required additional inspections and oversight due to their history of falling in and out of compliance with patient safety standards. However, they did not release the full list of “special focus facilities”, instead releasing the names of only the problem nursing homes which ranked among the worst in the country.
Special focus facilities, also referred to as SFF, demonstrated a higher risk of nursing home injury for residents due to deficiencies in the standard of care provided. Patterns of poor nursing home care are often present in facilities which are found negligent in nursing home neglect lawsuits. CMS released the partial list in hopes that publicity about the problem nursing homes would encourage all facilities on the list to improve their care. However, many families of nursing home residents demanded the complete list so that they could better protect their loved ones from potential injury.
The troubled nursing homes had higher reports of problems, which were almost double the national average. Although the lists do not detail the findings of the inspection reports, poor nursing home care can greatly increase the risk of injuries such as:
- Bed Sores
- Malnutrition and Dehydration
- Falls and Fractures
>>INFORMATION: Nursing Home Injuries
CMS indicates that the special focus facilities will be inspected every six months, and homes that fail to show improvement in the quality of care will be fined or possibly removed from eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid. The list will also be updated on a quarterly basis, with the next release due in April.
Following the release of the initial list of 52 problem nursing homes in November, CMS has indicated that many of the facilities have shown marked improvement. The public scrutiny they were subjected to when their name was included on the list of the nation’s worst nursing homes, obviously provided the motivation needed to improve the quality of care they were providing.
MARYLAND NURSING HOME LAWYERS
The Maryland nursing home lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate cases for nursing home abuse and neglect throughout the United States, but our offices are in Baltimore, Maryland. One Baltimore nursing home, Manor Care Rossville Home, was included among the recent additions to the list, and Heartland Healthcare Center, a Maryland nursing home in Hyattsville, was said to have shown improvements after they were included on the original list of 52 homes.
If you or someone you love has suffered injuries as a result of abuse or neglect at a nursing home, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
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