Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Beverly's raw nerve
My recent columns on the Beverly nursing home chain's new out-of-state ownership has not been well received in some circles. Let mhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gife draw your attention particularly to in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Jim Cooper of Melbourne is president of the Arkansas Health Care Association and he had a negative reaction to news that granny cams might be secretly rolling in nursing homes across the state.
So, Mr. Cooper, does that law apply to nursing home employees and managers? Should any of them not also report such instances immediately. Of course, it would be the first strategy of the nursing home operators to shift blame for patient abuse.
And Stephen Bright did not whisper. He was loud and clear about his intentions.
Lawsuits can help nursing home residents. The threatlitigationtion has caused many industries to cleantheirhier act.
Interestingly, there is a fine letter to the editor from a lady in Conway named Nancy L. Allison. An important highlight states:
The fact remains that 600 good jobs at Beverly's Fort Smith corporate headquarters are being held hostage until the Arkansas General Assembly grants long term care proprivilegesivliges not granted any other class of business, contrary to the best interest of vulnerable and frequently frail nursing home residents.
Let me be most emphatically clear here. Mr. Ron Silva, the new owner, made the threat to kill those jobs back in February, not me. He threatened to "take our toys and go home." That is not the concoction of the Central Arkansas media. Silva opened with a vile threat because he knows that his position is morally indefensible.
Pat Lynch quoted state Rep. Stephen Bright of Maumelle as saying he had knowledge that there are "four or five" secret cameras now in nursing homes recording abuse. If I read that correctly, the responsible question is "Are these incidents of abuse being reported to the proper authorities?" The law says they must. Immediately.
So, Mr. Cooper, does that law apply to nursing home employees and managers? Should any of them not also report such instances immediately. Of course, it would be the first strategy of the nursing home operators to shift blame for patient abuse.
And Stephen Bright did not whisper. He was loud and clear about his intentions.
Lawsuits can help nursing home residents. The threatlitigationtion has caused many industries to cleantheirhier act.
Interestingly, there is a fine letter to the editor from a lady in Conway named Nancy L. Allison. An important highlight states:
Beverly Enterprise's commitment to providing better educational programs and better benefits to caregivers is commendable, but we will know it is in action when care improves. Eighteen months ago, Arkansas was rated No. 1 nationally in the misuse of restraints. Today Arkansas is rated No. 2. That's not much improvement.
Furthermore, the same 10 deficiencies keep repeating every year during Arkansas nursing home surveys. It is difficult to believe that nursing home care is improving when they keep making the same basic mistakes over and over again. Act 649 of 2003, tort reform, applies to everyone in the state; businesses, individuals, hospitals, doctors and nursing homes
The fact remains that 600 good jobs at Beverly's Fort Smith corporate headquarters are being held hostage until the Arkansas General Assembly grants long term care proprivilegesivliges not granted any other class of business, contrary to the best interest of vulnerable and frequently frail nursing home residents.
Let me be most emphatically clear here. Mr. Ron Silva, the new owner, made the threat to kill those jobs back in February, not me. He threatened to "take our toys and go home." That is not the concoction of the Central Arkansas media. Silva opened with a vile threat because he knows that his position is morally indefensible.
