New administrator named for vets home

Monday, Feb. 10, 2003 | 10:55 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The temporary administrator of the state's 188-bed veterans nursing home in Boulder City, has been given the job permanently.

Tom Feeback had been acting administrator since last September. In the permanent role, he will now earn $80,917 a year.

The appointment was announced today by state Veterans Administrator Chuck Fulkerson, who said Feeback has experience in private nursing homes in Las Vegas and Montana.

Fulkerson said Feeback has a clean record with the state Board of Nursing Home Examiners. He said there was a question of care at one of the nursing homes in Las Vegas but an investigation cleared Feeback of any potential violation.

"He's got experience and he's got enthusiasm," Fulkerson said.

The home in Boulder City had 44 patients as of early last week and five veterans were to be admitted in the past week, Fulkerson said.

He said the facility is still waiting for its certificate from the Department of Veterans Affairs but he expects that in 30 to 45 days. The VA will pay $53 a day or one-third of the cost of the operation. The state also will cover one-third and the remainder will be paid by the veterans, private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, Fulkerson said.

The announcement resolves months of uncertainty at the nursing home.

Fulkerson announced the hiring of Jeri Farris of New Mexico as the administrator, but she turned down the position.

She was to replace John Sias, who said he was forced to resign in September by Fulkerson without being given a reason.

The $20 million home cost about $1 million more than expected and was completed a year behind schedule.

The original contractor, Addison Inc. of Las Vegas, was pulled off the job when the state became dissatisfied with its work and the failure to meet deadline. That dispute is still being worked out in the courts.