I will now provide some examples of why I feel there is something going on between the NCDHHS and some of the groups that own nursing homes and Rehab facilities. On the NCDHHS website you can find a list of fines imposed on these facilities.
In Henderson County there have only been six penalties issued, of those six, three are against the same facility. All of the penalties seem to be against the smaller not so wealthy homes.Follow the link below an see for yourself.
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/acls/adultcarepenalties.html#Henderson
I have seen a page on the NCDHHS website that lists complaints filed and the results of the investigations. I just went to their website and could not find a link to take me there. I will look later at my research and post that page. The same page lists the results of the annual recertification inspections. It seems funny that when the NCDHHS does their review, they are able to find lots of things that need to be addressed by these facilities. The page also lists complaints, and it is no surprise that almost all of the complaints are not substantiated.
If you have ever been in one of these places, I would be willing to bet, you personally witnessed something that would be against NCDHHS regulations. I spent plenty of time in Hendersonville Health and Rehab, visiting my Mom before her death.
As I look through the regulations the NCDHHS is responsible for enforcing, I could list three or four violations a day.
The results of these inspections should be posted in a public place. Any restaurant has to place a letter grade from the health department in plain sight. The results of the inspections are also listed in the local newspaper. It's comforting to know they are so concerned about letting us know what happens where we eat.
You would hope that a place that you are trusting to take care of your loved one, would be subject to the same scrutiny as where you eat dinner. I would hope nursing homes and Rehab facilities, were held to a higher standard than McDonalds. Seems like someone somewhere has their priorities mixed up. Or the integrity of our local health department is stronger than that of the NCDHHS nursing home licensing division.
"Just Sayin"
Sadly...it seems that our old and sick are in the hands of the inexperienced and unmonitored. Someone is lining their pockets, controlling these facilities from the place of care (or death in most cases) to the political pulpits!
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