Report: Most nursing homes not up to par

Monday, July 31, 2000 | 10:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- While the Clinton Administration is suggesting upgraded standards to protect patients in nursing homes, most Nevada nursing homes are not even complying with all the current federal regulations.

A report by the state Bureau of Licensure and Certification of Health Facilities shows that 42 of the 50 nursing homes inspected are "not in substantial compliance with all regulations" on patient care. The 42 nursing homes meet some standards but "need improvement" to comply with all the rules.

The report found that only one home -- Washoe Care Center in Sparks -- provided substandard care to its patients. But the report added that that business has improved its performance since its inspection in July last year.

"Residents in nursing homes are getting better care because we have identified the problems," said Diane Allen, supervisor of the 37 surveyors in the bureau. Annual unannounced visits are made to each home and they are graded on their compliance with 522 federal regulations.

The visits last usually one week and inspectors interview patients, family and staff, examine the meals, the living conditions and a host of other conditions. The state staff assesses whether the homes live up to the federal standards.

Allen said there has not been any penalties imposed recently such as withholding Medicare or Medicaid payments because of substandard conditions.

The homes are graded on administration, patient care, quality of life, physical environment, dietary services, and physician, nursing, rehabilitation and pharmacy services.

Only four nursing homes -- all of them in Southern Nevada -- received satisfactory grades for meeting most of the federal regulations.

They were Las Vegas Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center and The Manor, both in Las Vegas, Mountain Valley Health & Rehabilitation in Pahrump and TLC Care Center in Henderson.

Only two homes -- both in Clark County -- received grades showing they needed improvement in all six categories. They were Integrated Health SVC in Las Vegas and Delmar Gardens in Henderson.

The report covers inspections in the last six months of 1999 and the first part of this year.

There were three grades given: "Satisfactory -- meets most federal regulations"; "NI -- needs improvement, does meet some federal regulations, not in substantial compliance with all regulations"; and "NI* -- needs improvement, substandard quality of care."

Allen said some of those that received "need to improve" grades may be complying with most of the federal regulations in a category but could fall short in some areas.

Inspectors, at the direction of the federal government, are focusing on malnutrition, dehydration and weight loss of patients.

There is no overall shortcoming by these homes, said Allen. About five or six years ago, the homes were using restraints on patients too many times or for too long a period. But she said training by the federal government has alleviated that problem.

There were 29 nursing homes inspected in Clark County. Of those, 22 needed improvement in patient care, 19 in quality of life, nine in physical environment, 17 in dietary services, eight in services by physicians, nurses and pharmacy, and five in administration.

The report said there were 30 "substantiated complaints" about the homes in Clark County in the last six months of last year. In the Torrey Pines Care Center alone, there were nine substantiated complaints. Allen said, however, that in cases where there were multiple complaints, they may be all about the same condition, coming from different patients or families.