The largest nursing home in St Louis, Northview Village, abruptly closed in December and is now under scrutiny for significant safety and administration requirement violations during the resident relocation process. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is imposing hefty fines on the directors, Makhlouf, Suissa, and Eric Rothner, amounting to over $18,000 daily. According to a report from St. Louis Public Radio, this totals more than $56,000 for violations over three days.
Daily Fines and Ownership
The fines result from the directors' failure to adhere to proper procedures when moving residents out of the facility. The directors, all based in Illinois, own several other properties in the region and downstate Illinois. The Rothner family, in particular, owns or operates additional Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) in the state, highlighting a broader network of operations potentially affected by these management practices.
Missouri Department of Health Findings
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) discovered Northview Village needed to take adequate measures to ensure residents' and staff's safety and security. Furthermore, the facility failed to protect resident belongings from theft, exacerbating the chaos and distress during the closure.
Resident Distress
The DHSS report detailed harrowing scenes of disoriented and crying residents. Emergency personnel had to sedate at least one resident who resisted relocation. In a particularly concerning incident, a resident with a diagnosed mental illness went missing and was only found weeks later by a member of the public at a nearby restaurant.
Previous Federal Violations
The latest fines follow 12 federal violations since March 2021, totaling more than $140,000. These violations ranged from $2,200 to over $45,000 and included two abuse and neglect complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Additionally, nine quality-of-life complaints resulted in fines totaling $86,373, per Medicare records.
Calls for Broader Investigation
Resident advocates argue that fines are insufficient and call for a comprehensive investigation into other facilities owned or operated by the directors. Sam Brooks, Director of Public Policy at Consumer Voice, emphasized the need for more stringent penalties. "I've seen million-dollar fines," Brooks told St. Louis Public Radio. "Even that is a cost of doing business. … If they're not fit to own and operate nursing homes, they shouldn't be. That's the penalty that they should be facing."
HHS Report on Leadership Failures
In January, the HHS released a 59-page report outlining leadership failures immediately before and after Northview's closure. The report highlighted the chaotic evacuation of approximately 170 residents, many of whom were relocated to different regional nursing homes. Family members often struggled to locate their loved ones for days following the closure.
CMS Citation
In a letter detailing the recent fines, CMS cited Northview Village for unsafe evacuation procedures, administrative problems, and failure to protect residents from hazards and accidents. These issues underscored the systemic failures that led to the abrupt closure and subsequent turmoil.
Conclusion
The severe fines and detailed reports underscore the critical need for improved oversight and management in nursing homes. The case of Northview Village serves as a stark reminder of the importance of resident safety and proper administrative practices in ensuring the well-being of vulnerable populations. As the situation unfolds, resident advocates and regulatory bodies will continue to push for accountability and higher standards in nursing home operations.
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