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State Veterans Home A Top Story In 2007 NewsChannel5.com From a federal investigation to continuing problems with patient care, NewsChannel 5 has followed the ups and downs at the state-run nursing home throughout the year. As the year began, the U.S. Justice Department launched a formal investigation into the Tennessee State Veterans Homes, looking into possible civil rights violations at the homes in Murfreesboro and Humboldt. The U.S. Department of Justice told Gov. Phil Bredesen that federal investigators wanted to know whether veterans were getting proper care and treatment. Veterans' families had pushed for the probe. "I'm excited that the vets are not being forgotten," said Karla Henry. In May, inspectors from Washington spent several days at the home in Rutherford County. The investigators concluded that the veterans homes were likely responsible for the "avoidable" and "untimely" deaths of veterans. They also concluded that conditions in the homes were "egregious" and the treatment of patients "grossly" and "dangerously inadequate." "It's very serious," said Andrea Turner, a spokeswoman for the state health department. The Tennessee Department of Health barred the Murfreesboro home from taking in new patients for nearly five months this year. Admissions were suspended after inspectors repeatedly found serious problems that included fights, residents who were unnecessarily medicated and staff that failed to prevent accidents. "It's intolerable and it needs to stop yesterday," said state Sen. Mark Norris. "It needs to stop a year ago yesterday." In June, Bredesen told the state VFW conference that fixing the problems was a top priority. He also insisted the issues at the homes weren't as serious as had been reported. "In many cases, the proper follow up had been done," he said. "It wasn't documented." The governor asked lawmakers then to spend more than $3 million to improve care at the veterans homes. "We have an obligation to these people," said Dave Goetz, commissioner of finance and administration. The Bredesen administration told NewsChannel 5 the money would be used for additional staffing, new equipment and furniture. Yet, NewsChannel 5 was there when the veterans home board decided to instead spend a big chunk of that money on new office space, storage buildings, and parking lots. "It's a need," said State Veterans Homes Board chairman Grover Poteet. "Parking is a need. Storage buildings are a need." But these were not things the state felt would improve patient care so the state ordered the board to redo its budget. In August, State Veterans Homes board members assured state lawmakers that they were doing all they could to fix the problems. "We have a real effective board," said Arnett Bodenhamer. "We're looking out for our veterans." Veterans Homes Board member and Commissioner of Veterans Affairs John Keys explained, "We are working diligently." Yet, in November, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services threatened to pull funding from the Murfreesboro home for failing to provide quality care in a safe environment. The home corrected the violations though, in time, and never did lose its funding. But at the Veterans Day parade this year, two women, who both have had loved ones at the Murfreesboro home, expressed their frustration at all of the problems the facility has had this year. "They've have every opportunity, ample time to change things and yet still, it's happening," Henry said. "Something's got to change." Perhaps in 2008. According to the state health department, the veterans home in Murfreesboro has paid more than $150,000 in fines this year because of patient care violations. |
