State Health Department Releases April 2001 Inspection Results of Nursing Homes
Albany, February 26, 2002 – The New York State Department of Health (the Department) completed 46 unannounced standard annual nursing home surveys in April 2001, citing 44 for deficiencies. In addition, the Department fined 11 nursing homes for violations related to the care and services provided to residents.
The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration, requires the New York State Department of Health to conduct at least one unannounced standard survey of each nursing home no later than 15 months after the previous survey. Nursing homes found to have violations are issued a Statement of Deficiencies (SOD) by the State Health Department, citing those deficiencies identified during the survey as well as the seriousness of the findings.
In cases in which a facility is issued a SOD, the administrator of the home is required to submit a Plan of Correction (POC) to the Department. The Plan of Correction states what the facility will do to correct the individual findings, what steps will be implemented to prevent the deficient practice from affecting others, as well as their protocols to monitor the effectiveness of the plan over time to prevent reoccurrence of violations. If a facility is cited for "Significant Corrections Needed," "Substandard Quality of Care," and/or "Immediate Jeopardy" (see definitions below), the Department conducts an unannounced Revisit Survey once the facility has submitted an acceptable POC.
In April 2001, the Department determined that East Neck Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Suffolk) and Newark Manor Nursing Home (Wayne) were in compliance. Nursing homes cited for Immediate Jeopardy by the department included Good Samaritan Lutheran Health Care Center (Albany), Bainbridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Bronx), Fairport Baptist Homes (Monroe), and The Waters of Syracuse (Onondaga).
Once a SOD is issued, all facilities have the opportunity to request an informal dispute resolution (IDR) with the State Health Department. This standardized process allows nursing homes to informally review any disagreements they have regarding citations issued by the Department. Once the IDR process is complete, all findings for the latest annual standard survey are posted on the New York State Department of Health web site at . The DOH web site includes nursing home survey information both by facility and geographic area.
The Department surveys all 679 nursing homes in New York State to ensure that residents living in these facilities are receiving the respect, dignity, and quality of care they deserve.
Nursing home surveys are outcome-based and focus on the status of the care and services provided to residents. Through the survey process, the Department reviews issues and aspects of care that impact the lives of nursing home residents. SODs categorize deficiencies in the areas of administration, quality of care, resident rights, food service, environment, and other services such as dental, pharmacy and specialized rehabilitation.
As part of the State's surveillance of nursing homes, the Department sends a team of trained surveyors into facilities that may include registered nurses (RN's), social workers, nutritionists, and physicians. A Department representative responsible for the sanitary conditions of the facility completes the life-safety code portion of the survey (building codes, fire safety equipment and security systems).
Deficiencies, which signify a failure to meet federal and/or state regulations, range from minor to serious (examples of serious violations include, but are not limited to: avoidable weight loss, the development of avoidable pressure sores, and the occurrence of resident abuse, mistreatment or neglect). In order to identify issues, problems or potential violations, surveyors utilize three approaches: direct observation of services provided, interviews with residents, family members, direct care staff and administrators, and review of resident medical records. Once the survey team has gathered pertinent information, they analyze the data collectively and make a determination on whether deficiencies exist and a SOD should be issued.
Survey Rating - Each facility receives a rating based on the scope and severity of deficiencies found during a survey visit. One of the following ratings is associated with each standard survey. The sequence of the ratings is ordered from the most to least favorable outcome.
- In Compliance - Facility is compliant with all requirements. No deficiencies identified during the survey.
- Substantial Compliance - Facility has very minimal deficiencies that are unlikely to cause harm to residents.
- Corrections Needed - Facility has deficiencies that have the potential to cause harm or compromise the resident's ability to maintain or improve health status.
- Significant Corrections Needed - Facility has deficiencies that have caused actual harm or compromised the resident's ability to maintain or improve health status.
- Substandard Quality of Care - Facility has deficiencies identified in critical care and services areas that are provided by the nursing home. In some cases, a home is cited for substandard quality of care in addition to one of the deficient categories listed (typically coinciding with Significant Corrections Needed or Immediate Jeopardy).
- Immediate Jeopardy - Facility has deficiencies that have caused or are likely to cause serious harm, injury, impairment, or death if not immediately rectified.
Each nursing home has its own policies and procedures, but all must follow state and federal regulations. Some of the important aspects that individuals should look for when choosing a nursing home include, but are not limited to, complaint procedures; the use of personal belongings and furniture; the availability of ethnic foods and/or specialty diets; room assignments; reserving a bed if transferred to a hospital; visiting hours for family and friends; emergency procedures; self-care and daily assistance; leaving the facility for short visits with family and friends; the cleanliness of the facility and access to personal funds.
Also, when choosing a nursing home that will best meet their needs, individuals should consult with their doctor and the hospital discharge planning staff in cases involving hospital discharges to assess their medical, nursing and social needs. Nursing homes are required to make available the results of the most recent survey including any Plan of Correction (POC) in a readily accessible location. For further information (i.e., the number of deficiencies found at a facility) the public is recommended to go to the facility or contact its administrators for detailed information.
The following list identifies the name of the facility, its location, the highest level of deficiencies cited in April 2001, and the facilities current status. The "Current Status" is defined as the Department's latest survey rating given to the home. Facilities listed with a current status of "Significant Corrections Needed" or "Corrections Needed" may be awaiting a Department revisit to substantiate compliance, have not yet resolved violations from the April survey or are now addressing new violations from a subsequent survey.
| Facility | Location | Level of Citation | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Samaritan Lutheran Health Care Center | Albany | Immediate Jeopardy – fined $6,000 in case | In Compliance |
| Teresian House Nursing Home | Albany | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Wellsville Manor Nursing Home | Allegany | Corrections needed | In Compliance |
| Bainbridge Nursing & Rehabilitation Center | Bronx | Immediate Jeopardy | In Compliance |
| Eastchester Park Nursing Home | Bronx | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Throgs Neck Extended Care Facility | Bronx | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| United Odd Fellow & Rebekah Home | Bronx | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Ideal Senior Living Center | Broome | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Lutheran Retirement Home | Chautauqua | Corrections needed | In Compliance |
| The Waters of Dunkirk | Chautauqua | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Barnwell Nursing Home & Health Facilities | Columbia | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Delaware Heights Health Care Center | Erie | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Linwood Health Care Center | Erie | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Seneca Manor | Erie | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Franklin County Nursing Home | Franklin | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Genesee County Nursing Home | Genesee | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Edward John Noble Hospital of Alexandria Bay | Jefferson | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital & Nursing Facility | Manhattan | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Fairport Baptist Homes | Monroe | Immediate Jeopardy – fined $2,000 in case | In Compliance |
| St. Mary's Living Center | Monroe | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Wedgewood Nursing Home | Monroe | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Mount View Health Facility | Niagara | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| St. Clare Manor | Niagara | Corrections needed | In Compliance |
| Charles T. Sitrin Healthcare Center | Oneida | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Loretto Utica Nursing Home | Oneida | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Masonic Home & Health Facility | Oneida | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| The Waters of Syracuse | Onondaga | Immediate Jeopardy – Closed due to non-compliance | Remained out of compliance after four post-survey revisits over a 180-day period, resulting in the termination of the facility's Medicare/Medicaid agreement and closure. |
| Elm Manor Nursing Home | Ontario | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Loretto Heights | Oswego | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Pontiac Nursing Home | Oswego | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Horizon Care Center | Queens | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Rockaway Care Center | Queens | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Silvercrest | Queens | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Verrazano Nursing Home | Richmond | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Hepburn Medical Center RHCF | St. Lawrence | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Berkshire Nursing & Rehabilitation Center | Suffolk | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| East Neck Nursing & Rehabilitation Center | Suffolk | In Compliance | In Compliance |
| John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility | Suffolk | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Lutheran Center for the Aging | Suffolk | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| San Simeon by the Sound Skilled Nursing Facility | Suffolk | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Sullivan County Adult Care Center | Sullivan | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Riverview Manor Health Care Center | Tioga | Substandard Quality of Care | In Compliance |
| Newark Manor Nursing Home | Wayne | In Compliance | In Compliance |
| Wayne Health Care | Wayne | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| New York United Hospital Medical Center – Skilled Nursing Pavilion | Westchester | Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
| Sarah Neuman Center for Healthcare & Rehabilitation | Westchester | Significant Corrections Needed | In Compliance |
Both Good Samaritan Lutheran Health Care Center (Albany) and Fairport Baptist Homes (Monroe) were fined a second time in 2001 for deficiencies identified during the April standard survey noted above. Other facilities listed above may be subject to monetary penalties as well.
The State Department of Health fined the following nursing homes in April 2001 for violations related to the care and services provided to residents.
| Facility | Location | Fine & Survey Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chemung County Health Center Nursing Facility | Chemung | $ 6,000 – 5/19/00 |
| Episcopal Residential Health Care Facility | Erie | $ 2,000 – 4/6/00 |
| Fairport Baptist Homes | Monroe | $ 1,000 - 4/20/00 |
| Heritage Healthcare Center | Oneida | $11,000 - 10/2/00 |
| Hallmark Nursing Centre | Onondaga | $ 2,000 - 12/1/99 |
| Forest View Nursing Home | Queens | $ 3,000 - 11/8/98 |
| Summit Park Hospital, Rockland County Infirmary | Rockland | $ 6,000 - 7/14/99 |
| Ellis Center for Long Term Care | Schenectady | $ 6,000 - 5/4/00 |
| Hallmark Nursing Centre | Schenectady | $26,000 - 5/30/00 |
| Corning Hospital/Founders Pavilion | Steuben | $ 2,000 - 9/10/99 |
| Indian River Rehabilitation & Health Care Center | Washington | $ 2,000 - 3/2/00 |
2/26/02–21 OPA
