Humboldt Veterans Home slapped for violations

By Ken Whitehouse for NashvillePost.com
August 10, 2006

The Tennessee State Veterans' Home in Humboldt has been fined and had its admissions suspended for repeated health and safety violations, according to state officials.

Department of Health Commissioner Kenneth Robinson has suspended new admissions of patients to the home and has imposed a state civil monetary penalty of $3,000 per day.

While the state also has recommended that a federal civil penalty of $3,150 per day be imposed until the violations are corrected, informed sources tell NashvillePost.com that federal officials have already moved in to monitor the facility and will be imposing fines retroactively from March 15. The reason why March 15 was selected could not be learned by the time of this article's publication.

According to information provided by the Tennessee Department of Health, the 120-bed facility was ordered not to admit any new patients due to conditions found during a survey conducted July 31 through August 3.

During the investigation, surveyors found violations involving nursing services, pharmaceutical services, resident rights and physician notification standards. Specifically, the state says the deficiencies pertained to resident neglect, misappropriation of resident medications, failure to follow physicians' orders and failure to notify physicians of changes in resident condition.

News of the actions taken in Humboldt come on the heels of charges of neglect at Tennessee State Veterans' Home in Murfreesboro.

Last month, an oversight committee comprised of members of the Tennessee State Legislature heard testimony that residents of the Murfreesboro facility were neglected. One patient reportedly had developed bed sores that became infected with maggots.

State law allows the commissioner of the Department of Health to suspend admissions to a nursing home when conditions are determined to be, or are likely to be, detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the residents. The order to suspend admissions remains effective until conditions are corrected. A copy of the order must be posted at the public entrance where it can be plainly seen.

The nursing home has the right to a hearing regarding the suspension of admissions before the Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities or an administrative judge.