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ADMISSIONS SUSPENSION LIFTED AT SOME TENNESSEE

VETERANS' HOMES -- Admissions back on at Knoxville and

Humboldt, but still on hold at troubled Murfreesboro home.

 

 

Some background on the Murfreesboro home here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/
nf07/nfJUN07/nf062407-3.htm

Story here... http://www.wate.com/
Global/story.asp?S=6776409&nav=0RYv

Story below:

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Gov. lifts admissions suspension at Knox Co. veterans home

NASHVILLE (WATE) -- Gov. Bredesen on Wednesday lifted the suspension of admissions at the state veterans' home in Knoxville.

The action follows a recommendation from state assessors who performed an intensive review of the homes and the hiring of a nationally-recognized healthcare consulting firm to perform a quality assessment.

Admissions had been suspended at the Ben Atchley State Veterans' Home in Knoxville since June 18.

Bredesen also lifted the suspension at the state veterans' home in Humboldt.

"After hearing the hands-on assessments from state doctors and nurses, I am comfortable that the Veterans Homes in Knoxville and Humboldt are providing a sound level of care and can re-open admissions," Bredesen said in a press release.

Admissions are still suspended at the Murfreesboro veterans' home, although a correction plan has been accepted by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and the Tennessee Department of Health.

"I believe that residents of the veterans' home in Murfreesboro are also receiving a sound level of care, but vacancies in key staff positions necessitate continued suspension of new admissions until they are filled. While I believe things are moving in the right direction, I remain concerned about quality assurance procedures, staffing problems and operational issues at all facilities. We will maintain intensive oversight of the state veterans homes as the board works to address these issues," Bredesen said.

The Murfreesboro home is on a course to resolve staffing issues in the near future.

A new administrator, medical director and others are scheduled to be on staff soon.

In an immediate review, state doctors and nurses concluded that none of the homes' residents were at imminent risk of harm, although quality of care concerns were noted in their review of the Murfreesboro facility.

The state has contracted with Q Source, the not-for-profit Medicare quality improvement organization for Tennessee, to do a comprehensive quality assessment at each of the state's three veterans' homes.

The assessments begin at the Tennessee State Veterans' Home in Murfreesboro.

Q Source will complete its assessments of all three homes by July 31.

Q Source will review four primary areas:

* Residents' rights and quality of life

* The accuracy of residents' comprehensive assessments and the adequacy of care plans based on these assessments

* The quality of care and services furnished, including medical, nursing, rehabilitative care and drug therapy, dietary and nutrition services, activities and social participation, sanitation and infection control

* The effectiveness of the physical environment to empower residents, accommodate resident needs, and maintain resident safety.

Department of Health inspectors cited the Murfreesboro home and suspended admissions on June 18. Gov. Bredesen followed that with a suspension of admission at all three homes.

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Larry Scott  --