An August report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) listed Richmond Health and Rehabilitation Complex — better known as Madison Manor — among the worst nursing homes in the nation.
“We estimated that almost 4 percent — or 580 — of the nation’s roughly 16,000 nursing homes could be considered the most poorly performing,” the report reads.
The GAO works as the audit, evaluation and investigative arm of Congress. Titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act establish minimum requirements that all nursing homes must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid program.
According to the GAO’s mission, it “... exists to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and accountability of the federal government for the American people.”
The GAO nationwide performance audit of federally funded nursing homes began in February 2008 and concluded in August.
The Kentucky Inspector General’s Office, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, is aware of the GAO’s findings and acting inspector general Kerry Harvey said it is something the office takes very seriously.
“As the state’s regulatory agency for long-term care facilities, we are charged with making sure facilities are in compliance with Medicare health and safety standards,” Harvey said. “We want the public to understand, failure to comply with these regulatory standards is a very serious issue that can lead to monetary penalty, denial of payment for new admissions, and in some cases decertification from the Medicare /Medicaid program. The safety of the residents of Kentucky’s nursing facilities always has been and will remain our top priority.”
For-profit nursing homes and/or those affiliated with a commercialized chains are more likely to receive a poor report, according to the GAO.
Nursing homes that fell under one or both of these categories “... had an average of almost 24 percent fewer registered nurse hours per resident per day.”
To determine the characteristics of the most poorly performing nursing homes, “... we analyzed deficiencies and revisits from the three most recent cycles — that is, the three most recent standard surveys,” the report reads.
This is not the first federal list of troubled nursing homes in which Madison Manor has been featured.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services added the facility to its “Special Focus Facilities” list in April.
Aside from this, the facility was named in a lawsuit, and three nursing home employees were indicted.
The family of the late Armeda Thomas, 84, of Irvine, hid a video camera in her room at the facility in September, 2008, to document the behavior of employees at the facility.
Three former Madison Manor employees, Jaclyn Dawn VanWinkle, Amanda G. Sallee and Valerie Lamb, were indicted by Madison grand juries on charges of patient abuse.
VanWinkle pleaded guilty earlier this year to a single count of reckless abuse or neglect of an adult, Sallee’s trial date is set for March 15, 2010, in Madison Circuit Court and Lamb was scheduled to appear in Madison District Court on Monday on a single count of reckless abuse or neglect of an adult.
Sallee is accused of denying Thomas her food between Sept. 1 and Sept. 5, 2008. The indictment alleges Sallee ate Thomas’ meals herself.
The video showed several employees appearing to neglect and mistreat Thomas, who died in November 2008 from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.
If convicted, Sallee could receive up to five years in prison.
Other Kentucky nursing homes that made the GAO’s poor performance list include: Cambridge Place, Lexington; Britthaven, Somerset; Salyersville Health Care Center, Salyersville; Villaspring, Erlanger; Pembroke Nursing Home, Pembroke; Arbor Place, Clinton; and Harborside Healthcare Nursing Homes, Florence, Madisonville and Owensboro.
Visit www.gao.gov to find a full copy of the report.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
Local News
Madison Manor on national list of ‘poorly performing’ nursing homes
Status could lead to Medicare/Medicaid decertification
- Local News
-
-
Measuring education
Brent Ray, a local contractor, helps Kit Carson Elementary third-graders Nathan Buck and Anijah Rembert measure an outside wall Thursday morning during a class project to determine the perimeter of the school. The third-grade class broke into groups to measure sections of the outside walls which they used to find the perimeter.
-
Kiwanis auction Saturday at City Hall
The annual Richmond Kiwanis Club auction will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. until about 5 p.m. with proceedings carried live on TimeWarner Cable Channel 12 and WEKY 1340 AM Radio.
“We have lots of great stuff, as we always do,” said Amanda Stepp, the auction coordinator.
“We have gift cards for almost every restaurant in Richmond as well as two pickup trucks that will be sold,” she said. -
Man pleads guilty to voyeurism charge
A man accused of taking pictures of a woman showering at a Berea truck stop was sentenced to probation Wednesday in Madison District Court.
Paul S. Byrd, 41, of McKee, was arrested Oct. 29 by the Kentucky State Police after a woman reported the incident at the 76 Truck Center off Interstate 75. -
Berea one of state’s first five cultural districts
The Kentucky Arts Council on Thursday named Berea one of the state’s first five certified cultural districts.
Although the legislature designated Berea the state’s Arts and Crafts Capital in the 1990s, this newest designation will draw even more attention and tourism to the city, said Belle Jackson, Berea’s tourism director. -
LRC plans to appeal judge’s HB1 ruling
The leadership of the General Assembly announced Thursday it plans to appeal Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd’s ruling that the legislature’s plan to re-draw state legislative boundaries is unconstitutional.
-
Facebook post leads to arrest
A post on the Richmond Police Department’s Facebook page led to the arrest of a man suspected of stealing two Blu-Ray players from Walmart.
Walmart employees reported to police Jan. 25 that a man had concealed the electronics under his coat and attempted to leave the store without paying, said Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock in a news release. -
Four indicted in Berea murder case
The death of a Berea man and the attempted murder of another came at the hands of four people, according to indictments handed down Wednesday by a Madison grand jury.
-
Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
John G. Fee, abolitionist and founder of both Berea and Berea College, will be portrayed Friday night by performer Obadiah Ewing-Roush as part of Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua performance series at the Madison County Public Library. There is no charge to attend the 7 p.m. event.
As the son of a slave-holding father, Fee witnessed firsthand the benefits of having slaves and the profits that could be made from their labor. When he graduated from college and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary, he began to understand the inherent wrong and destructiveness of slavery. -
Berea woman dies Tuesday in Laurel County crash
A Berea woman, Tommie Johnson, 60, died Tuesday evening in a Laurel County crash, according to the the Laurel Sheriff’s Office.
The accident took place about 7 p.m. at the junction of Maple Grove Road and KY 363 south of London, as Johnson was attempting to turn onto the state highway.
Laurel County Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore said Johnson’s Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out in front of a Dodge Durango driven by Charles Joseph, 19, that was traveling south on KY 363.
After being extricated from her vehicle, Johnson was transported to St. Joseph-London hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Joseph also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to the accident report. -
Finally February
Ian Rosser, an Eastern Kentucky University student from Lexington, clears snow from his car parked on campus Wednesday
morning after about an inch of snow fell in Richmond. Temperatures are forcast to be in the upper 40s today. Kentucky has seen a lot of rain in the past few months, as was predicted by the Farmer's Almanac, but very little snow has fallen. - More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
