The Ivy at Great Falls may be closing soon, as recent reports suggest. Inspection reports since December 9, 2021, found 70 total deficiencies, 7 of which were infection-related, $236,000 in total fines, and 2 payment suspensions.
A nursing home receives a penalty, either a fine or payment suspension when it has a serious health citation or fails to fix a citation. Fines may be imposed once per citation or regularly until the nursing home corrects the citation. Fines not associated with inspection reports can include fines for not reporting COVID-19 data or not complying with infection-control requirements. Payment suspensions occur when the government stops payments to the nursing home until an issue is fixed. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services releases the last three years of penalty information.
Some citations noted in the reports included:
– Failure to timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
– Failure to provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
– Failure to provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident’s health.
– Failure to ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked compartments for controlled drugs.
– Failure to provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
– Failure to provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
One source mentioned, “We’re still open right now, but we are going to be closing as of probably August.” They added that people from the state were helping to find locations for everyone involved. “Right now, they’re giving them until the 9th of August,” explained the source. “Their insurance is going to, I think, stop on the 9th of July.” It was unsure what might become of the Ivy as this information had just been presented to the staff.
As I reached out for more information on this issue, I was confronted with several “no comment” responses. This source did, however, say, “We would definitely make sure that if there’s information that’s released, we’ll make sure that it’s done in a group type thing.”
Please stay tuned to The Great Falls Gazette as we are searching for more information on this issue.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
