Recordpub.com - Nursing home probe continues

By Mike Sever

Record-Courier staff writer

Portage County officials will meet Monday in executive session to continue their investigation as to what went wrong at the county's nursing home, The Woodlands at Robinson.

The nursing home has been cited by the Ohio Department of Health for failing to keep a frail woman resident safe and for failing to promptly report an alleged abuse incident as required.

ODH was called Aug. 6 after an aide reported finding evidence the female resident was abused on Aug. 4 in her room. A written report was not filed until Aug. 10, according to ODH.

The board will meet at 3 p.m. Monday at The Woodlands in executive session with representatives of Generations Health Care, a Cleveland-area firm that specializes in nursing home management. The board passed a resolution Thursday to hire Generations.

Commissioners want the firm to review the nursing home's policies and procedures and make sure any problems in procedure are corrected before state inspectors return.

"There's a very serious breakdown in communication that has to change. Emphatically, that has to change," Commissioner Maureen Frederick said Saturday.

Ravenna police also were notified by family and nursing home administrators and have comfirmed they conducted a criminal investigation. No charges have been filed.

ODH's deficiency report described the woman as a "frail, vulnerable resident" who was unable to move her arms or legs. The names of the resident and that of her alleged abuser, who reportedly was the 75-year-old spouse of a Woodlands resident, were blacked out in the report.

Nursing home administrator Gary Borrelli and Director of Nursing Diane Goodwin told investigators they were unaware of three prior abuse allegations the state inspectors said were documented in staff notes.

Last Thursday, commissioners met for about one-and-a-half hours with Borrelli and Goodwin.

Commissioner Chris Smeiles said commissioners have been told inspectors from the Ohio Department of Health may be back as early as Thursday. He also said the county has been notified the fines recommended by ODH have been reduced from $4,250 to $250 a day, and that Medicaid/Medicare payments are no longer in jeopardy.

When it was opened in 2001, Generations Health Care managed the Woodlands for the county for the first year of operation. Commissioners then decided to hire Gary Borrelli away from Generations and have him manage the 99-bed nursing home as a Portage County employee.

Smeiles said the board will wait for the Generations evaluation before deciding on any management changes at The Woodlands.

"We have not discussed retaining (Generations) for management as of yet. Everything's on the table," Smeiles said.

Smeiles said he was unaware of any other abuse concerns at the facility off North Chestnut Street in Ravenna.

"If there are any other concerns that need to be brought up, family or residents should contact the county commissioners," he said.

Frederick said she's received a number of calls from families of other residents concerned about the situation.

"I've been told there's too heavy a reliance on temporary (nursing) services. That's something we need to look at," Frederick said.

At last Thursday's regular session, Frederick told fellow commissioners Smeiles and Chuck Keiper she'd been called by group of concerned Woodlands employees who wanted to meet with commissioners.

Saturday, Frederick said the board was told that, since Woodlands employees are unionized, any meeting with the board would have to be requested by their union.

Smeiles said commissioners are working to quickly resolve safety issues at the nursing home.

"It's very upsetting to have a first-class facility with a stellar reputation for so many years, and this one time period casts a shadow. We are committed to resolving issues and work on restoring public faith in the Woodlands," he said.,

2.	Posted by noanswer September 16, 2007
	Wow, you know an employee..that's impressive..I know the whole situation first hand, and I take offense to the fact that you think that you know the story...when clearly you don't. The whole situation makes me sick and it's none of yours or anyone else's business....how would you like this to happen to you and then not have the means or ability to respond to this....????? She doesn't even know this stupid forum exists....you don't know crap about this..The victim can't speak...just to let you know, and when she does, you can't hear it so I suggest you find a better source of information or quit cutting up the story and saying stupid lies...Find something better to do with your time than think that someone in a horrible situation already is consenting to this sick crap.. You have a lot of nerve.... Mind your own business.... Why don't you take up a hobby that doesn't involve talking about an already emotional situation that doesn't pertain to you....... People need to know what's going on in there...It's not muddying any situation