EASTON, Pa.- Gracedale Nursing Home’s license is being downgraded again, this time to Provisional III status.
Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski delivered the news to the county council during its regular meeting Thursday night.
Gracedale, which is owned and operated by the county, has been operating under a provisional license for most of the year following a string of deficiencies noted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH).
The nursing home was demoted from Provisional I to Provisional II status over the summer; Zrinski said the move to Provisional III follows DOH surveys performed on September 10 and 24.
According to documentation from the health department, Gracedale was cited on September 10 for failing to properly monitor a resident who was supposed to be on a puree texture diet because he was deemed a choking risk; the man choked and had to receive medical care after consuming a piece of sandwich handed to him by another resident.
For the September 24 incident, a resident suffered a foot injury after staff failed to follow protocol in helping her to the bathroom, officials said.
The DOH uses a tiered system when evaluating nursing homes. At the top is a Regular license, which is issued when the home is deemed to be in full or substantial compliance with state health and safety regulations. A Regular license is typically valid for a year.
Provisional licenses are rated Provisional I through IV, which reflect graduated severity of violations or repeated/unresolved deficiencies. They’re typically valid for no more than six months and may be renewed no more than three times at the discretion of the DOH.
The state charges a higher licensing and per-bed fee for nursing homes operating under provisional licenses. According to the DOH, a Regular nursing home license is $250 plus $2 per inpatient bed, while a Provisional III license is $800 plus $8 for each inpatient bed.
Zrinski told council that addressing the deficiencies while also trying to change public perception of Gracedale has been difficult.
“We have to move forward with the intent to remove all deficiencies in a systematic way by auditing every policy and procedure, and welcoming a management consultant to help us through this time period,” Zrinski said. “These deficiencies require improvements and communication, but without resources and new leadership, this is challenging.”
Last week, Gracedale Administrator Michelle Morton submitted her resignation, effective November 12. Assistant Nursing Home Administrator Christina Casey will serve as the acting nursing home administrator after Morton leaves.
Zrinski said the likelihood that Gracedale would be forced to close is slim. “But,” she added, “we are going to remain vigilant and not say never. We are going to move forward.”
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