WV DENIES LICENSE FOR CLARKSBURG VA NURSING HOME - "There Is Really No Excuse"

(01/19/2008)
State regulators have refused to issue a license for the $26 million West Virginia Veterans Nursing Home in Clarksburg.

The regulators say the facility has a lot of problems, including failure to meet requirements for accident prevention and infection control.

A 120-page report was issued last week by the state Office of Health Facility Licensure.

The nursing home was slated for opening in 2005, but has met with numerous setbacks.

Other problems cited in the report include failure to meet requirements for therapeutic diets, care of pressure sores, vision and hearing, activities of daily living, menus and nutrition, quality of life, staffing and general maintenance.

The Veterans Administration facility also failed to ensure that all job applicants were screened against the state's nurse aide abuse registry before they were hired.

The announced opening was pushed back several times for various reasons, including problems with its communications and air control systems.

"I have met a few people and some families that are trying to get into the nursing home, but the consensus seems to be among the local veterans that there is really no excuse for all these problems," said Bob Ryan, service officer at the Clarksburg American Legion and a Vietnam veteran.

"There have been too many little things and too many blunders along the way," he said.

Eight veterans have moved into the 120-bed nursing home.