STERLING LIVING CENTER CO DEFICIENCY REPORT

	Nursing Home Deficiency Report current as of November 25, 2009
Date	Deficiency	Scope	Level of Harm
12/16/2010	walls or barriers that prevent smoke from passing through and would resist fire for at least one hour.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	construction that can resist fire for one hour or an approved fire extinguishing system.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	exits that are accessible at all times.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	record of quarterly fire drills for each shift under varying conditions.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	portable fire extinguishers.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	properly protected cooking facilities.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	restrictions on the use of highly flammable materials.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	proper fire barriers, ventilation and signs for the transport of oxygen.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	properly installed electrical wiring and equipment.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
12/16/2010	back-up procedures in place for a faulty automatic sprinkler system.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Give the resident's legal representative the same rights as the resident.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Keep each resident's personal and medical records private and confidential.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Keep each resident free from physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Provide social services for related medical problems to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Provide needed housekeeping and maintenance.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Develop a complete care plan that meets all of a resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Give professional services that meet a professional standard of quality.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Give each resident care and services to get or keep the highest quality of life possible.	Isolated	Actual harm
11/17/2010	Make sure that the nursing home area is free of dangers that cause accidents.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Store, cook, and give out food in a safe and clean way.	Widespread	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Make sure that doctors visit residents regularly, as required.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Have a program to keep infection from spreading.	Widespread	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Provide bedrooms that don't allow residents to see each other when privacy is needed.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident's room or bathroom and bathing area.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/17/2010	Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/18/2009	fire safety features required by current fire safety codes.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/18/2009	automatic sprinkler systems that have been maintained in working order.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
11/18/2009	properly installed electrical wiring and equipment.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Give the resident's legal representative the same rights as the resident.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	1) Hire only people who have no legal history of abusing, neglecting or mistreating residents; or 2) report and investigate any acts or reports of abuse, neglect or mistreatment of residents.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Make sure each resident has the right to choose activities, schedules and health care according to his or her interests, assessment, and plan of care.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Provide social services for related medical problems to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Make sure all assessments are accurate, coordinated by an RN, done by the right professional, and are signed by the person completing them.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Give professional services that meet a professional standard of quality.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Make sure that the nursing home area is free of dangers that cause accidents.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Make sure that each resident's nutritional needs were met.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Keep the rate of medication errors (wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong time) to less than 5%.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Make sure that residents are safe from serious medication errors.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Make sure that residents are well nourished.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Prepare food that is nutritional, appetizing, tasty, attractive, well-cooked, and at the right temperature.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Provide food in a way that meets a resident's needs.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Store, cook, and give out food in a safe and clean way.	Widespread	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Make sure that doctors visit residents regularly, as required.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Properly mark drugs and other similar products.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
10/21/2009	Have a program to keep infection from spreading.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	walls or barriers that prevent smoke from passing through and would resist fire for at least one hour.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	smoke barrier doors that can resist smoke for at least 20 minutes.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	construction that can resist fire for one hour or an approved fire extinguishing system.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	exits that are accessible at all times.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	proper backup exit lighting.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	did not have a written emergency evacuation plan.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	properly working alarms on sprinkler valves.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	automatic sprinkler systems that have been maintained in working order.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	posted "No-smoking" signs in areas where smoking is not permitted or did not provide ashtrays where smoking was allowed.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	proper fire barriers, ventilation and signs for the transport of oxygen.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	weekly inspections and monthly testing of generators.	Widespread	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	properly installed electrical wiring and equipment.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/27/2008	back-up procedures in place for a faulty automatic sprinkler system.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/07/2008	Protect residents from mistreatment, neglect, and/or theft of personal property.	Isolated	Actual harm
08/07/2008	1) Hire only people who have no legal history of abusing, neglecting or mistreating residents; or 2) report and investigate any acts or reports of abuse, neglect or mistreatment of residents.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/07/2008	Provide social services for related medical problems to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life.	Isolated	Actual harm
08/07/2008	Provide needed housekeeping and maintenance.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/07/2008	Make sure that each resident who enters the nursing home without a catheter is not given a catheter, unless it is necessary.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/07/2008	Make sure that the nursing home area is free of dangers that cause accidents.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/07/2008	Make sure that each resident's nutritional needs were met.	Isolated	Actual harm
08/07/2008	Properly care for residents needing special services, including: injections, colostomy, ureostomy, ileostomy, tracheostomy care, tracheal suctioning, respiratory care, foot care, and prostheses.	Isolated	Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety
08/07/2008	Have drugs and other similar products available, which are needed every day and in emergencies, and give them out properly.	Isolated	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/07/2008	Properly mark drugs and other similar products.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/07/2008	Have a program to keep infection from spreading.	Pattern	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm
08/07/2008	Set up or keep a group of people to review and ensure quality.	Widespread	Minimal harm or potential for actual harm

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Where does this data come from?

The data on this website describes nursing home characteristics, quality measures, inspection results, and nursing staff information.

The data come from 2 sources:

1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have an Online Survey, Certification, and Reporting (OSCAR) database - Includes the nursing home characteristics and health deficiencies issued during the three most recent state inspections and recent complaint investigations.

   The survey inspection results are collected by the state survey agencies, who perform onsite visits to nursing homes . The inspections occur at least once during a 15-month period, or any time in between as a result of a complaint received by the state. The inspections ensure that the nursing home residents receive quality care and services in a safe and comfortable environment in accordance with rules established by CMS. Complaints may be reported and inspected during the year (outside of the 9-15 month survey cycle). Inspections about a complaint that result in the citation of a health deficiency are reported to CMS and included in this website. Sometimes the inspection finds a problem that the nursing home identified and corrected before the inspection occurred. The fact and the nature of these prior problems (deficiencies) may be included in this website.

   The information on the nursing homes' characteristics derived from OSCAR are prepared by each nursing home at the beginning of the regular State inspection. This information is reported by the nursing homes themselves. It is reviewed by nursing home inspectors, but not formally audited to ensure data accuracy. In addition, this information changes frequently as residents are discharged and admitted, or resident conditions change.

2. National database known as the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Repository

   The data for the quality measures come from the MDS Repository. The MDS is collected on regular intervals for every resident in a Medicare or Medicaid certified nursing home. Information is collected on the resident's health, physical functioning, mental status, and general well-being. These data are used by the nursing home to access the needs and develop a plan of care unique to each resident.

   Regulations require that a MDS assessment be performed at admission, quarterly, annually, and whenever the resident experiences a significant change in status. For residents in a Medicare Part A stay, the MDS is also used to determine the Medicare reimbursement rate. These assessments are performed on the 5th, 14th, 30th, 60th and 90th day of admission.

   All of this data is reported by the nursing homes themselves. It is reviewed by nursing home inspectors, but not formally audited to ensure that it is accurate. Every attempt is made to assure the accuracy and timeliness of this information. However, this information changes frequently as residents are discharged and admitted, or resident conditions change. We advise interpreting this information cautiously and supplementing it with information from the Ombudsman's office, the State Survey Agency, or other sources.

   Some MDS items used to calculate the quality measures consider the resident's condition during previous days prior to the assessment date. The following table provides these "observation" or "look back" time frames.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse:

• Unexplained injuries or bruises
• Over or under medication
• Visible cuts, bruises, or welts
• Rapid weight loss or weight gain
• Dehydration, malnutrition, and bedsores
• Unsanitary living conditions
• Infections
• Broken bones
• Sudden death