Sunday, May 13, 2007

Federal judge stays order to take Springfield facility off Medicare

A federal judge Friday issued a stay, allowing Greene Haven in Springfield to continue receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments for its residents until a hearing can be held.

The drastic steps to strip Greene Haven of its federal and state funding came after state inspections revealed the following problems, according to an article in the Springfield News-Leader:

In a notice of noncompliance, William Koebel of the state's long-term care regulation program filed a report detailing problems.

Koebel said that based on observation, interview and record review, the facility staff failed to:

- "... monitor, assess and provide appropriate interventions for one resident for an acute change in medical condition, resulting in death, which was associated with severe pain, a decline and a fall."

- "... assess, monitor and provide appropriate interventions for two residents for an acute decline in medical condition resulting in their deaths."

The report also detailed incidents in which staff allegedly failed to protect several residents from mental, emotional and in some cases physical abuse by staff members and residents.

In addition, the report said the facility failed to provide supervision to prevent accidents.

"Other less serious citations were made in the areas of dietary services, infection control, urinary incontinence, pressure sores, restraints, unnecessary drugs, privacy and dignity and assessments and care plans, and general environmental conditions," a DHSS press release said.


Prior to the order, the facility had been scheduled to be removed from the Medicare and Medicaid lists on Monday. Officials with Greene County Nursing Care Center, Inc., which operates Greene Haven said they had not been given due process.

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