Governor Bredesen Lifts Suspension At Two Veterans Homes
Press Release
Governor Bredesen Lifts Suspension At Two Veterans Homes
Governor Phil Bredesen today lifted the June 18 suspension of admissions at Tennessee State Veterans' Homes in Knoxville and Humboldt. The action follows a recommendation from state assessors who performed an intensive review of the homes and the hiring of a nationally-recognized healthcare consulting firm to perform a quality assessment.
The state has contracted with Q Source, the not-for-profit Medicare quality improvement organization for Tennessee, to perform a comprehensive quality assessment at each of the state's three veterans' homes, starting with Murfreesboro. Q Source will complete their assessment of all three homes by July 31.
Suspension of admissions remains in place at the Murfreesboro home, although a plan of correction has been accepted by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and the Tennessee Department of Health.
"After hearing the hands-on assessments from state doctors and nurses, I am comfortable that the Veterans Homes in Knoxville and Humboldt are providing a sound level of care and can re-open admissions," Bredesen said. "I believe that residents of the Veterans Home in Murfreesboro are also receiving a sound level of care, but vacancies in key staff positions necessitate continued suspension of new admissions until they are filled.
"While I believe things are moving in the right direction, I remain concerned about quality assurance procedures, staffing problems and operational issues at all facilities. We will maintain intensive oversight of the State Veterans Homes as the board works to address these issues."
Q Source will review four primary areas:
Residents' rights and quality of life;
The accuracy of residents' comprehensive assessments and the adequacy of care plans based on these assessments;
The quality of care and services furnished, including medical, nursing, rehabilitative care and drug therapy, dietary and nutrition services, activities and social participation, sanitation and infection control; and
The effectiveness of the physical environment to empower residents, accommodate resident needs, and maintain resident safety.
The Murfreesboro home is on a course to resolve staffing issues in the near future, as a new Administrator, Medical Director and others are scheduled to be on staff soon.
Upon immediate review, state doctors and nurses concluded that none of the homes' residents were at imminent risk of harm, although quality of care concerns were noted in their review of the Murfreesboro facility.
"The Murfreesboro facility is clean, has a caring staff and there is a high level of satisfaction among residents and family members," said Dr. Wendy Long, Medical Director for TennCare, the state's expanded Medicaid program. "We are comfortable that immediate problems have been resolved, but there are longer-term staffing, administrative and quality concerns that must be addressed."
Dept. of Health inspectors cited the home and suspended admissions only at Murfreesboro on June 18, and Bredesen followed with a suspension of admission at all three homes.
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