by James C. Sherlock

This is the best nursing home news in this space in a long time. A phone call to the facility today confirmed that the infamous Colonial Heights Rehab and Nursing Center is closed to new applicants.

This reporter is not sure of the driving force behind this specific action, but that facility has made headlines for a series of arrests and indictments of staff.  

It also was absolutely hammered by a 340-page complaint inspection report from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC) dated January 3rd that was recently released. It was incredibly thorough — the best I have ever read.  The author of that report clearly felt strongly about what he or she wrote.

That report detailed 105 violations of federal regulations in a survey of the records of only 33 of 186 residents. Sampling is the normal process for a very good reason — the time it takes understaffed inspector teams to thoroughly review and investigate patient records. But it begs the question of violations in the cases of the other 153 residents.

We offer both the report of the results of that inspection and a compilation of them into an attached spreadsheet. It makes for scary, riveting reading. I recommend starting with the spreadsheet and going to the actual report for additional detail.  

I sincerely hope that the new patient shutdown was directed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services based upon that January 3rd report. But it should not have taken nearly that long.

As previously described here, the Governor submitted a bill to the General Assembly that would have let VDH take the action directly and in a more timely manner to deny new admissions, but a corrupt General Assembly negated it with a substitute that utterly frustrated its purpose. I have recommended that the Governor veto the substitute.

We all retain concern for the remaining patients. The facility was at 95% occupancy when the latest inspection commenced.

But all of that said, it is time for celebration. Thanks to local and state governments for getting us to this point.

The author has asked VDH for comment and will ask the Virginia Association of Health Plans to do so as well.

This is a continuing story. It will be updated as new information is available.