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NV nursing home faces penalty for deficiencies in infection control, patient care

Infection Control Monitor, January 9, 2004

State officials recommended that a Carson City (NV) nursing home discontinue receiving Medicare reimbursement for new patients until it addresses six problems, including an infection control deficiency that had the potential to do more than minimal harm to patients, the Associated Press reports.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating the cause of six deaths at the nursing home, Evergreen at Mountain View, on December 9. Investigators have made no connection between the six deaths and the facility's deficiencies. A state epidemiologist says he believes four of the six deaths may be influenza-related.

An inspection of Evergreen in October turned up nearly 30 federal and state deficiencies. State health officials reinspected Evergreen in December and found that the facility failed to fix six of the previously identified problems, including ones involving infection control, patient care, resident behavior, and facility practices.

Acknowledging that the facility is working to fix the remaining problems, Doug McCoy, Evergreen's regional operations manager, says the December reinspection found no substandard patient care and no violations that endangered lives.

"We believe we will be in compliance with all federal regulations before Jan. 17," says McCoy, noting the date that the recommendation to halt Medicare reimbursement could take effect. The CDC must first approve the Nevada Health Division's Bureau of Licensure and Certification recommendation in order for Evergreen to stop receiving Medicare for new patients.

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