Seventeen bodies were found in a makeshift morgue in N.J. Nursing Homes and federal fines amounted to $ 220,000

Federal regulators A troubled New Jersey nursing home On Easter Sunday, 17 bodies were found in a makeshift morgue with fines and fines of $ 220,235, with COVID-17 failing infection control practices at a facility that has so far killed at least 66 people. discovered.

The Andover Subacute Rehabilitation Center in Sussex County was also cited by the US Medicare Centers and Medicaid Services for lack of patient care during a deadly outbreak.

However, CMS did not mention or discuss the bodies temporarily stored on the site after a surge of deaths overwhelmed the administrators on holiday weekends.

New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichili on Thursday Deploying the National Guard On Friday, we will bring 22 soldiers to a nursing home to provide care. New hospitalizations have been banned by the state, and the facility was ordered last month to hold new infection control specialists and other key personnel.

Andover Subacute consists of two separate buildings. Andover I is a small, low-rise facility where 13 people died of coronavirus. The larger two-story complex, Andover II, is set up for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and those with mental health problems. To date, 53 people have died. CMS implementation measures focused on Andover II.

Owners are required to submit a so-called remedial plan for defects identified by CMS inspectors within 10 calendar days.

D-5th Dist has been promoting the deployment of National Guard to Andover Subacute and the state’s VA nursing home. Parliamentarian Josh Gottheimer urgently sought to investigate Andover’s situation for the next few days immediately after Easter. incident.

“I’m completely disgusted with the residents, staff, and family about the conditions revealed by this CMS test,” Gottheimer said. “The loss of life and the situation faced by many inhabitants is a complete tragedy.”

Carroll Nobrit, director of the Sussex County Department of Health and Welfare, told NMS Advanced Media that the CMS report confirmed the county’s suspicions about the condition of the facility and was “disastrous.”

“The report emphasizes that the facility really needs help, and the state now sees it as fit for providing intervention and resources,” Nobrit said.

CMS Inspector I went to the facility on April 21A national headline was created after the first report that 12 or more unstored bodies were stored. According to a letter sent to the manager, the investigation found the facility to be “substantially non-compliant.”

Unpublished inspection reports point to the outbreak of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases and the failure of appropriate infection control measures that could affect all populations on the premises.

However, according to the House of Representatives, the study found patients with elevated temperature, and no clinical assessment or follow-up by medical staff was documented. Patient COVID-19, under investigation, was also found to have been placed in a room with asymptomatic residents. After the patient’s test returned positive, the resident was moved to another room.

When one staff member shouted out assignments and instructions, he observed that a face mask was placed under his nose and mouth, under his chin, and in close proximity to the other eight staff members.

Several cases of insufficient use of protective equipment were also cited.

Anthony Fasano, a freelance owner in Sussex County, said the tests revealed were horrifying and unforgivable.

“According to this report, the situation facing many of our residents at this facility was quite outrageous and, of course, not in compliance with federal regulations,” he said. “My prayers are with residents, staff and families affected by this horrific crisis.”

Based on current county data, the Andover Subacute II facility currently has 133 inhabitants and 54 staff, and has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement, Chaim “Mutty” Scheinbaum, 37-year-old Lakewood Alliance Healthcare CEO that owns the facility, said Andover Subacute I and Andover Subacute II were separately licensed long-term care with separate patient populations. A facility, but implemented a similar protocol to counter the spread of COVID-19.

“The federal regulator with CMS conducts a national review of long-term care facilities to review infection control protocols. Andover Subacute’s Review I states that the facility complies with applicable guidelines. We conclude that CMS pointed out areas for improvement in Andover Subacute II, but determined that the facility’s improvement plan was acceptable as the number of deaths at the facility continued to decline, “Shinebaum. Said. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CMS and the New Jersey Department of Health and continuing to fight the deadly virus for nursing home patients and staff throughout the United States.”

In addition to Andover, Shinebaum owns nursing homes in Pennsylvania and Cinnaminson, NJ, and two other nursing homes in Pennsylvania. The final inspection by CMS rated Andover II as one of five stars, or “well below average.” Andover is 3 out of 5, or on average, slightly better.

Last year Andover Subacute received $ 22.3 million from state Medicaid. The daily Medicaid rate for Andover I was $ 206.83 and for Andover II was $ 192.56, so far this nursing home has received $ 7.9 million Medicaid payments to date.

Gottheimer is R-4th Dist this week. House of Representatives Chris Smith introduces legislation codifying federal requirements that nursing homes report epidemics, infectious diseases, and potential outbreaks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and inform residents and their families did. Of infection in the facility. The regulations also require that the facility have an appropriate crisis plan to manage the outbreak and stockpiling of personal protective equipment on hand.

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Ted Sherman [email protected].