Twin Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, located at 2420 W. 3rd St,, has been cited for having 23 violations, or deficiencies, that have either caused harm to residents living there, or have the potential to cause harm. Because of the severity and consistency of these violations, which have been filed over the course of two years, Twin Rivers qualifies as a Special Focus Facility (SFF).
According to a report published by Propublica, SFFs are given the title when a nursing home has a history of persistent poor quality of care, as indicated by the findings of state or Federal inspection teams.
“The SFF program targets those facilities that substantially fail to meet the required care standards and resident protections afforded them by the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” the report reads.
To be a nursing home included in the SFF program is a rarity, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). A maximum of 88 nursing homes reside as SFF programs nationwide, and those chosen are subject to more frequent surveying and progressive enforcement actions.
Nursing homes that are participants in the SFF program are designated online with a small yellow triangle that resembles a “caution” traffic sign, the report states.
The report used data from the inspection as an example of their troubling findings throughout the different nursing homes visited across the country.
“In Kentucky, several residents were placed in immediate jeopardy when the facility failed to provide prescribed medication and treatment and then failed to inform the patients’ physician when the treatment was missed,” the report states.
Another example used in the report described the low quality of care given to residents post-injury at Twin Rivers.
“One resident who suffered from a burn wound and was receiving treatment was missed. One resident who suffered from a burn wound and was receiving treatment that included a skin graft did not have the dressing changed or showers administered as ordered. Upon inspection, state surveyors found the individual ‘lying in bed with a large amount of green drainage on dressing and a pool of green drainage on the bed sheets. The resident stated he/she was not sure the last time the dressing had been changed.”
As of May 29, 2019, Twin Rivers had an overall rating of two stars with a staffing rating of four stars.
Twin Rivers is currently being fined $524,000 because of their 23 deficiencies, which range from incomplete care plans that don’t meet the needs of residents, to inappropriate care when handling catheters and other medical equipment used on residents, to unsatisfactory food storage, preparedness and distribution.
Federal data reveals that Twin Rivers incurred 15 violations during their most recent inspection on Sept. 27, 2018, which was conducted by CMS.
Owensboro Times reached out to Twin Rivers several times for comment, but Administrator Eric Ross declined to comment at this time.
The full report can be read and viewed here.
