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GAO finds weakness in nursing home fire safety

LTC Liability Monitor, July 21, 2004

Following its investigation of last year's nursing home fires in Hartford, CT, and Nashville, TN that killed a total of 31 residents, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) called for stronger nursing home fire safety standards.

In a report released last week, the agency also recommended CMS improve oversight of state survey activities with regard to fire safety and review its practice of granting waivers for older facilities to forego full sprinkler systems.

CMS agreed with the report's findings, saying the agency will increase fire safety inspections five-fold, as well as explore the possibility of requirements for more smoke detectors and full sprinkler systems in all nursing homes.

Go to http://www.hcpro.com/content/40775.cfm to read the report, "Nursing Home Fire Safety: Recent Fires Highlight Weaknesses in Federal Standards and Oversight."

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