Agency lists area nursing homes with best, worst inspection records

March 25--Nursing homes in Sterling, Moundridge and Montezuma were among just seven in the state recognized by Kansas Advocates for Better Care for recording five or fewer deficiencies during consecutive state inspections over the past three-plus years.

In fact, two of those homes -- Sterling Presbyterian Manor and Bethel Home in Montezuma -- recorded zero deficiencies during their last three inspections, while Moundridge Manor recorded just one.

In contrast, 68 nursing facilities were on a separate recently published KABC list for poor performance trends over the same period, with 44 of those cited for serious deficiencies of actual harm of residents and higher severity deficient practices.

Inspectors cite a facility for a deficiency if they find the home out of compliance on specific state or federal health and safety regulations. The state average is 10 deficiencies per inspection, and a national average of 7.2.

The list of homes exceeding the average 10 deficiencies for each of the last three inspection cycles -- accounting for almost 20 percent of the 350 regulated nursing homes in the state -- include a dozen in The News coverage area.

Three Hutchinson facilities and one in Pretty Prairie made that list, including one -- Good Samaritan in Hutchinson -- which inspectors cited during its most recent inspection for "actual harm," for failing to provide a resident with adequate supervision and develop fall prevention interventions after the resident suffered several falls.

Health inspections, the non-profit KABC notes in its release, are the only objective, external evaluation of a nursing facility provided by the state for assuring the health and safety of adults who reside in them.

Kansas law requires nursing facilities be inspected every 12 months, but on average, due to staff shortages and budget shortfalls, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services gets around only every 14 to 16 months.

Deficiencies cited may affect one, some, or all persons living in the facility and can range in severity from low to high, the KABC stated.

In Kansas, it's not unusual for a nursing home to be cited for 10 deficiencies during a single inspection, said KABC Executive Director Mitzi McFatrich. However, being cited with 10 or more deficiencies for three consecutive cycles constitutes a "red flag."

The highest number of deficiencies cited in a single Kansas nursing home during the most recent inspection period was 46, at Good Samaritan Society in Minneapolis.

The KABC notes that, of the seven high-performing homes, non-profit corporations own five while for-profit companies own two. Of the poor-performing homes, on the other hand, nearly three-fourths are owned by for-profit corporations.

Only one care center in the state, Caritas Center Inc. in Wichita, has recorded four consecutive inspections without a single deficiency.

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