Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Portland Nursing Home Faces Neglect Citation



The state of Maine has cited St. Joseph's Manor for neglect and mistreatment after maggots were reportedly found on a patient.

St. Joseph's Manor is disputing parts of a state report that cites the Portland nursing home for neglect and mistreatment, after maggots were reportedly found on a patient's body.

Representatives of Saint Joseph's Manor will meet with state officials September 9th to discuss the report, says Catherine Cobb, director of Licensing and Regulatory Services for the state.

"There were a number of citations, and they will present what evidence they want to say, 'We disagree that this was a deficient practice,'" Cobb says. "If there is any merit to their arguments, we could potentially change a citation, we could keep it, we could change it, we could drop it. That will depend on the evidence."

Cobb says the outcome of the meeting will help determine whether St. Joseph's will be able to have Medicare patients, and what kind of penalties the federal government would impose on it. In the meantime, St. Joseph's is required to follow an action plan to prevent larvae infestation among patients.

The nursing home says the incident was an isolated one.

No comments: