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In Arizona they’re going after state managed Veterans Homes; I’m sure this is partly due to the national Walter Reed Hospital “scandal”.

PHOENIX – The state nursing home for military veterans has told federal regulators that the facility is retraining staff and taking other corrective steps in response to critical inspection findings.

But veterans home officials said at least one major allegation of inadequate care appears to be unfounded.

A report from a February inspection conducted by state nursing-home regulators found shortcomings at the facility in Phoenix, including staff inattention to required care for patients, response to patients’ activation of call buttons and possibly dangerous smoking practices by patients.

Acting on the results of the state inspection, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services imposed a $10,000 penalty on the state and ordered the home to fix its care shortcomings or lose its status as a Medicare provider.

Patrick Chorpenning, the director of the state Department of Veterans’ Services, resigned Tuesday, declining comment to reporters but predicting in his resignation letter that reviews would result in a complete exoneration.

Lawyers with a law firm hired by Napolitano to represent the home in regulatory matters arising from the critical inspection filed an “informal dispute resolution statement” late Monday.

The response said staff would undergo “mandatory re-education” on policies on responding to residents’ needs and on their rights and also must acknowledge in writing that they received information on abuse and neglect. Also, residents’ care plans on smoking will be reviewed, the plan said.

Regarding one matter that the inspectors flagged as serious, the response said statements provided by staff members indicated there apparently was a “communication glitch” regarding the unavailability of supplies for ostomy care for a resident. The night nursing staff did not refuse to provide necessary ostomy care and instead swaddled his abdomen with a towel, the response said.

It’s sad when people “suddenly” take notice of conditions we have been complaining about for years…in this context. Much of this is politically motivated. There is no place for politics and nursing care. But many people bring the two together to make themselves look good. Veteran Centers and Walter Reed Hospital have been having problems for YEARS now, long before the war with Iraq began. Long before Bush was elected President; heck, long before Clinton was President. While some of this stuff is serious, most of it is building wear and tear from normal use; and periodic supply shortages we all know about. The care isn’t bad. The staff don’t need re-training. The system needs to be re-trained. I will say this: These are examples why a national health care model probably won’t work…too many chiefs and too few indians, (that would be we the aides…) and too many regulations and red tape rules. The patients, residents always lose out, they come last.