Nursing home now meets state standards

Nursing home now meets state standards

Nov. 13, 1999

By Jim Mimiaga

State inspectors conducting a follow-up inspection of Vista Grande Nursing Home after they found eight health violations there determined yesterday that the facility is now compliant with Colorado quality-care standards, director Joanne Aldrich reported yesterday.

"We are completely recertified. The return inspection went very well," Aldrich said. "The exit interview was attended by members of the MCHD and SHS boards, and the inspector commented to us that we have a good facility and that the results were good."

Dealing with complaints about long-term care:

The Colorado State Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) handles complaints of inadequate care in nursing homes and has the authority to resolve problems.

Complaints can be filed by calling (303) 692-2800, or by letter, Attention: Complaint Program Administrator, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, HFD-A2, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, Colorado 80222.

Complaints need to be filed any time within a year of the circumstances, but it is best to do it as soon as possible. The CDPHE will investigate all complaints related to resident rights, quality of care and life, abuse, dietary, and environmental concerns. Complaints related to billing and insurance are not addressed by the CDPHE.

However, prior to filing formal complaint, CDPHE encourages people to try and talk to the staff and administration of a home. In some cases the problem might be easily resolved if administration of the facility knows about it.

Another option is to contact local ombudsman Diane Fields (259-1967). Her job as resident advocate is to go into the home on the patient’s behalf and look into the situation. If not, contact the CDPHE; your call can be anonymous.

The original inspection, conducted by the Colorado Department of Health and Services in September, revealed several deficiencies involving patient care at the 78-bed nursing home, many regarding patient hygiene. Out of 15 records of sample patients that were analyzed, the care of four failed to meet requirements as stipulated under standards involving incontinence care. Other deficiencies related to issues of privacy, medical testing, and patient comfort.

When asked what Vista Grande would do differently to prevent unacceptable conditions in the future, Aldrich said, "Plans implemented to correct the problems of the first survey will continue. What we did was make changes in our systems to improve their efficiency, such as improved tracking and attention to paperwork.

"The inspector indicated to us that the deficiencies in the original survey were not serious and not widespread, and that everything was back in good shape."

Aldrich downplayed the report to the Cortez Journal last week, saying it was an isolated incident that does not routinely occur. She further pointed out that previous years’ inspections showed that care was up to par and said the home’s high acuity rating, rated number three in the state by the Department of Health-Care Police and Finance, presents a bigger challenge for Vista Grande care-givers. The rating measures the severity of illness of patients at a given facility.

The report did not go unnoticed by hospital government. In a jointly written letter the Southwest Health System and Montezuma County Hospital District boards strongly communicated their concerns to Vista Grande’s management firm, Continuum, over violations brought to light by a state inspection team Nov. 4. And as a result of the poor showing, the boards want explicit language to be added to the home’s management contract that better guarantees compliance with state health standards.

The Nov. 10 letter, sent to Continuum attorney John Houtchens from SHS and MCHD attorneys, stated that "the Boards directed us to communicate their unanimous concern and disappointment with regard to the most recent ... statement of deficiencies for Vista Grande."

Presently both boards are negotiating a long term-lease agreement between them and Continuum, the Greeley-based management firm operating Vista Grande since 1996. Continuum pays the district $160,000 annually as "rent" in exchange for operating the taxpayer-owned facility for a profit. The district board is not in agreement with Continuum’s 40-year proposal introduced last month, which also stipulates options for Continuum to sell all, or a portion, of their lease agreement on the secondary open market if they prefer. The MCHD board would have right of first refusal to buy back the lease at market price in that scenario.

"We are extremely concerned and want to assure that we have a top-quality organization there," said MCHD board chairman Randy Smith. "The least that we can do is to insert more quality assurances because right now there is really no teeth in the agreement that addresses those issues."

The district and SHS prefer a shorter term for the lease, and will use the recent report as leverage to negotiate stricter safeguards into the new lease, stating that "Continuum will not and can not be considered a viable Lessee for the existing facility or for a newly constructed facility (an option in the lease) unless sufficient assurances and safeguards are provided to guarantee that the facility will provide a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment for the residents."

It further noted that "Vista Grande residents should be assured of high quality care provided in an atmosphere of self-respect and dignity. As you know, the existing proposed lease provides little, if any, direction or assurances with regard to these issues."

Lease negotiations with both boards and Continuum, often conducted in executive sessions that are closed to the public, are ongoing and need to be completed, in good faith, by the end of Continuum’s lease extension, up in March 2001.