County nursing home earns flawless survey from state health department

Aug. 07--KINGSVILLE -- Just in time for its 175th anniversary on July 23, the Ashtabula County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center along Dibble Road was awarded its first-ever perfect annual survey from the state Department of Health.

The annual surveys cover 800 pages worth of federal regulations on nursing home care standards, policies and procedures -- not counting other standards documents -- which is "mind-boggling," said center Administrator Arkadiy Koltsov. Yet surveyors found zero deficiencies during their June walkthrough and interviews.

"In preparation for the survey, I would say all our employees felt a responsibility to do the job as best they can," Koltsov said of the 24-hour nonprofit center's 135 workers. "You could see during the survey, (the building) was sparkling, it was in order.

"People (were) really trying to do an excellent job. It can't be overstated. It involves all departments -- dietary, housing, even maintenance and, of course, the nursing department."

Surveyors also meet with residents and their families, to ask them how they feel the center is addressing their needs and concerns. Last year, the center received the best rating on the department's family survey.

Koltsov said he feels the groundwork was laid two years ago when the center shifted from physical to digital record-keeping, "which saved us a lot of time and also increased the level and quality of communication between shifts, between departments," he said -- as those needs are much more available to staff.

Surveyors pay close attention to safety measures and response alarms or devices, and watch how staff handle elderly residents when transporting them around the center, onto elevators or into their beds.

"We work with elderly people -- very compromised people with dementia, with weakness, weak balance. Falls and accidents -- they do happen. Everybody understands it. There's nothing you can do about it," he said. "But what you can do is address and make sure each such incident is being investigated -- everything that could be done for this resident was done."

The survey also looks at how doctors' orders are followed and trends in patient health, he said -- is it on the decline and is it due to natural causes or negligence? It also makes sure all documentation is checked, signed and dated.

Last year's survey in March returned four minor deficiencies, Koltsov said. The 2013 survey, however, found nine.

"We are definitely moving in the right direction," he said.

He said he hopes this year's flawless report will bump the center's quality measures rating on the Medicare nursing home comparison website up to a five-star rating. Commissioner Peggy Carlo said it's possible a higher rating could mean more Medicare reimbursements from the state, or more attention from third-party insurance payers.

"it is very difficult to get a perfect score," she said. "I just think that the staff and the board of commissioners are very pleased with the way the survey came out. We're very pleased with the staff, with Generations (Healthcare Management) that run it ... we've got the best of both worlds here."

The center was founded in 1841 as a "last resort" for the seriously ill or poor patients, with few services. Today, most procedures that can be done in a given resident's hospital can be done at the center -- wound cleaning, dialysis, or IV insertions -- for less cost, Koltsov said.

"That's what the nursing homes, nursing centers are doing now -- that's where everybody's going," he said. "That's, of course, a huge difference to what it used to be 200 years ago.

"I would like to say a big 'thank you' to families and residents, to our county for their trust," Koltsov said. "They have trusted us with their loved ones and we'll do everything possible to make sure we are providing good care to the people of Ashtabula County."

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