Still have your doubts? Look at this!

Last time I wrote about a page I couldn't find, well I found it. It is the results of NCDHHS investigations of nursing homes. When I looked at Hendersonville Health and Rehab, there was a complaint that was not there the last time I had looked.
Basically someone complained because they or their loved one had been given the wrong medication. This resulted in the patients pulse dropping to 46 and them being sent to the hospital for observation. The procedure for administering medication was not followed. According to records they need two out of four ways of identifying the patient. The nurse in this case just went up to this patient in the physical therapy room and asked if he was the patient ( name not given). From what the report says, there was no lasting harm.
You would think they would be fined or penalized for such a serious mistake, but they were not. There are other facilities that get fined for less serious offenses. Take a look at some of what goes on at these places. It is almost criminal what they are allowed to get away with.
 If my memory is correct, there was one facility that let one of their residents wander off , resulting in her being hit by a car that was backing up .According to the report, she died from the accident.
They were only fined $6000.00. It's hard to believe, thats what a life is worth to the NCDHHS?
Go down the page below and look at Hendersonville Health and Rehab. It's not quite the paradise they make it out to be in the commercials on WLOS! Nor is Beystone, Stone Creek or Mountain Home Health and Rehab ( one of Larry Joes many intrests). This stuff really happens. These people have only one concern, and rest assured it is not the well being of their residents. It is MONEY plain and simple! When you read the reports it sure does look like NCDHHS is looking the other way. And the cost of that is human lives!

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/facilities/results.asp

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"

I have been watching the obituaries for some time now and I am noticing that it has been a while since someone died at Hendersonville Health and Rehab. Could be they are just sending them to Pardee Hospital to be pronounced ( like they did my Mother) or maybe they have actually increased the level of staff to insure the safety of their residents.
Whatever they are doing, I will continue to keep watching what happens there and all the other SanStone properties. I hope what I am doing will make a change in how they care for their helpless patients. I have a feeling that when that much money is involved, they will figure out a way to hide what actually happens there. All I can do is keep watching, and I promise I will never stop. The NCDHHS is not making them play by the rules, maybe the people who have been affected can. I will be contacting other people who have lost a loved one at one of these facilities. I hope as a group, we will be able to make NCDHHS do their job and make these places safer. They could make positive changes and still make plenty of money the old fashioned way, by earning it providing the service they advertise! More later.

Today I'm going to be doing more research into some of the issues that I have been writing about. I think it would be intresting to know how a small town doctor like Larry Joe, can have an intrest in so many aspects of health care. Can a doctor possibly avoid a conflict of intrest if he operates or manages, a nursing home, medical lab, several doctors offices, a sleep clinic, and a location that provides durable medical equipment and oxygen ? I am not quite clear on exactly what role Larry Joe has in each, but his name is linked to all of the above.
He is also seeing patients at more than six other nursing homes and  privelages at both local hospitals.
His office shows eight nurse practitioners and two physicans assistants. I guess that explains how he can manage all of his "patients". I wonder how many of the people Larry Joe "sees", even know what he looks like. Or that they may not actually be seeing a physican. I was just wondering?
It wouldn't surprise me if I discovered that he had an association with an ambulance service. If not maybe he should consider it. He sure needs their services a lot. I'm sure that the NCDHHS, NC medical board and everyone else would be ok with that.

More to come

If you have been reading this you may get the impression that this is a personal issue. Well I guess you could say that to some degree. The reason I started writing was to express my frustration with Hendersonville Health and Rehab,NCDHHS, NC Medical Board, NC State medical examiner and (Dr) Larry Joe Russell.
My mother was in Hendersonville Health and Rehab simply to regain her strength, following surgery that she had in early September 2011.
 She had been in ( non) Care Partners in Asheville, then sent home. At home she was not quite strong enough to assist in her daily living needs. She ended up back in Mission Hospital, dehydrated and with painful hemmoroids. She spent a week or so in Mission, and was transferred to Hendersonville Health and Rehab for physical and occupational therapy. During her short stay in Hendersonville Health and Rehab, a member of the family was with her most of the time.The only time we were not there was late night.That is when the horror takes place at Hendersonville Health and Rehab. Several things happened, including a serious fall. We were led to believe that the fall was no big deal.
In preperation for her discharge,my wife and twelve year old son had taken Mom shopping and to the bank. She bought a new pair of jeans to wear home the next day and did her banking business. Then she returned to Hendersonville Health and Rehab for her last night.My brother in law showed up and stayed with her till she went to bed for the night.
The next morning at 5:07 am, I received the phone call that would change my life forever.Moms heart had stopped beating. According to Larry Joe, and there was no apparent reason .My Mother was not sick, nor was she a frail old lady, she was just in there to regain her strength.
After my Mom died, I went to ask Hendersonville Health and Rehab about what might have happened on her last night. I still do not know exactly what happened that night. In my quest for information, I discovered many things that were cause for concern. Following all the proper channels, I set out to find out exactly what had happened. The lack of intrest by all the state agencies (especially NCDHHS) led my brother and I to start our research. What we have found out about nursing homes and rehab centers is extremely alarming.
This blog is the beginning of my attempt to facilitate change in the system and hopefully honor my Mother.By making sure these people are no longer allowed to get rich taking advantage of the elderley and phisically challenged.
My Mom left behind five children and too many grandchildren and great grandchildren to count. She was also a mother to many others who knew her. A bright shining light in the hearts of many who had no one else to care about them.
On November 3, 2011, she passed away. She was supposed to come home that day!

It seems like lawmakers are determined to do as little as they can to protect the seniors in these facilities. I guess they figure if they lower the odds of surviving a stay in one of these places, they can save some money. That, would possibly enable them to get a pay increase.
I recently spoke to a member of the Henderson County Health Department. In our conversation, I mentioned the slack attitude of the NCDHHS regarding nursing homes and how they did not respond to my complaints against Hendersonville Health and Rehab. He proceeded to tell me that at the present the kitchens are inspected three times a year. Then he said that the legislature had passed a bill that would only require them to be inspected once a year.
I have not done my research yet but I suspect that animal shelters are inspected more than once a year. I'm pretty sure the local tatoo parlors get inspected more than once a year as do butcher shops, hotels and hopefully childcare centers. With the current rate of elderly people that rely on nursing homes and assisted living facilities, you would hope someone was watching these people to make sure they are not taking advantage. The only people who seem to be watching these facilities are greedy investors. People like Larry Joe, who see it as easy money.
It is time to speak up against the way our parents and grandparents are being treated. If you have someone in one of these places, dont make the mistake of thinking they are safe. Ask questions, verify that they are receiving their medication as prescribed, and especially talk to them about what happens at night. Look for signs of falls or bruises and check their medication. Someone has to do it, and I can assure you the local government will not keep up their end of the deal. Don't wait till someone you love dies to ask questions. You will never get the true story. Especially from Hendersonville Health and Rehab. I know because I have been trying for six months.

Well today was just another day in the world of nobody cares. It seems that the Republican legislature have passed laws that basically make it impossible to obtain any justice when you are wronged by any medical professional.These laws restrict a persons ability to bring a claim against a health care provider or nursing homein many ways.They have created a hole for these bottom feeding "medical professionals" to crawl in and hide when they screw up.
This would explain the contributions of certain people to the Republican party. They have created a situation where in order to succeed in obtaining justice one needs a medical degree as well as a law degree. These people have a great deal of money and can afford to buy any politician they need to achieve their goals.
The obvious corruption on the State level is nothing compared to the billions at stake on a National level.
As an American citizen it is embarassing that the political parties have put money first and the lives of American Citizens last. We need to stand up and fight while we still have any rights left. The fear of punishment is only a motivator if it is a reality.These people have no fear of any Gonernment agency, they own them.
Look up Senate Bill 33 and you will see how hard it is to make these people acountable for what they do or fail to do! These people make me sick , and they need to be stopped. It's time to stop them while we still can. Please write letters, make phone calls, and as pointless as it seems Vote. Sooner or later we will get someone honest in office that actually has morals, instead of a huge bank account.
People like Larry Joe are small time hoods compared to the likes of people like Gerald P Cox, but it has to start somewhere. If Larry Joe is allowed to continue, he will be the next Gerald Cox. They use our own taxpayer dollars against us.Believe me if you dont care now, you will when you or your loved one is in a facility like Hendersonville Health and Rehab, or any other SanStone operated facility.
It is our responsibility to stop them if we can. The laws are already in place, we need someone who is not in their pocket, or afraid to stop them. More to come!