State nursing home grades in need of improvement

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 10:28 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Only a handful of nursing homes in Nevada are providing satisfactory care and most of the other homes need to improve to meet federal standards, a new report says.

But the report, from the state Bureau of Licensure and Certification, says only one home -- White Pine Care Center in Ely -- gave substandard care in the quality of life for the elderly patients. The state said the center has taken corrective action.

"I can't think of a facility in full compliance. We're always finding deficiencies," said Lisa Jones, a health facility surveyor based in Las Vegas.

Jones said the bureau points out potential problems that might lead to bigger trouble.

Charles Perry, executive director of the Nevada Health Care Association, said nursing homes here are judged by a higher standard than in most states.

"It's become a situation where the facility is judged against a perfect standard," Perry said. "I don't know of a facility that doesn't have some deficiencies."

The nursing homes are inspected at least once a year by the state to see if they are meeting federal and Nevada standards. They are judged on patient care, quality of life, physical environment, dietary services, physician, nursing, rehabilitation and pharmacy services and administration.

Receiving a satisfactory grade in every category were four homes in Clark County. They were Boulder City Hospital, Gaye Haven Intermediate Care Facility of Las Vegas, Integrated Health Services of Las Vegas and TLC Care Center of Henderson.

A satisfactory rating signifies they have met most federal regulations.

The report said Integrated Health Services of Henderson needed improvement in every category except physician, nursing, rehabilitation and pharmacy services. The "need improvement" rating means the home is meeting some federal regulations but is "not in substantial compliance with all regulations."

Integrated Health Services of Henderson also had the highest number of substantiated complaints in the last six months of 2000 of any home in Nevada. The report said there were five.

Life Care Center of Las Vegas also was rated as needing improvement in five of the six categories. It gained a satisfactory mark only in administration. But it had only one substantiated complaint against it.

The annual report said The Manor in Las Vegas had to improve in five of the six categories. It rated satisfactory only in administration. It had three substantiated complaints filed against it.

The Plaza Regency at Sun Mountain had the second-most substantiated complaints in Southern Nevada at four. On the inspection rating, it gained three "satisfactory" grades and three "need to improve."

Pam Graham, chief of the bureau, said all the Nevada nursing homes have met the minimum standards. And she said the bureau is working with the industry to make improvements. "We're accused of over-regulation," she said. "But we're trying to provide education."