Veterans home cited for putting residents at risk of harm
January 9th, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
A U.S. Justice Department report claims that residents at William F. Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette, Alabama, suffered significant harm and risk from the facility’s inadequate medical and nursing services, accoding to the Mobile Press Register.
The report was released last month and is based on the outcome of a February inspection and interviews at the nursing home. It alleges that the home had “inadequate nutritional and hydration services; improper and dangerous psychotropic medication practices; inadequate pressure-sore treatment and skin care; inadequate restorative care and specialized rehabilitation services; failure to protect residents from harm due to falls; failure to adequately investigate allegations of resident abuse; and the inappropriate use of restraints.”
Veterans Affairs Department spokesman Bob Horton says nursing home administrators and state officials were first made aware of the allegations when they received the report last month.
“If the citations in the report were so severe, you would think the department would have been notified sooner, if there was any potential of veterans being harmed or a risk of harm,” Horton told the Press Register reporter.
The Justice Department said the delay was typical and due to heavy paperwork following an onsite visit. The department has yet to issue penalties to the home based on the report, adding that it is likely a settlement will be reached between the Justice Department and the home, eliminating the need for a lawsuit.