OH, NO! NOT AGAIN! - VA Nursing Home Fails One More Time

(03/12/2008)
West Virginia's new veterans nursing home in Clarksburg has failed again.

Following numerous failures of deadlines and inspections to allow the facility to open, it has failed a second state inspection, following a surprise visit.

The nursing home received failing marks from the state Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification in January.

Now it has failed again.

The 120-bed nursing home has been beset by problems ranging from construction to staffing and it must pass inspection before it can receive its license.

The home has not accepted any more residents since it opened in November with eight veterans.

"There isn't any real problem," said the units administrator, "You have to understand, we are a veterans nursing home and the regulations the licensing board are going by are Medicaid and Medicare."

The state licensing office has 10 business days to prepare a final inspection report and return it to the nursing home. Then the nursing home will have 10 business days to develop and return a corrective action plan.

DHHR spokesman John Law said the state will return for another surprise inspection at a later date, saying "The licensing review is not easy to pass."

After the state review is finished, the home's operations must be reviewed by federal veterans officials.

The facility is now a year or more overdue in opening.