Published: November 25, 2009 05:27 pm      

Staff: Britthaven has made 'significant' upgrades

Staff at Britthaven of Somerset want community members to know the facility has undergone “significant” improvements in just the last 12 months — and they’re proud of it.

“Britthaven has made significant improvements during the past year,” said a statement released from administrator Brian K. Jaggers. “The facility has opened a 15,000 square foot addition for 30 residents. The care and services in the addition are focused for patients who are needing rehabilitation services.”

The statement was written in response to reports that Britthaven had landed, along with 10 other nursing homes in Kentucky, on a list of the “most poorly performing” in the U.S. The list was released by the U.S. Government Account-ability Office (GAO), which provides oversight of federal agencies for Congress.

Administrators at Britthaven say the report paints a skewed picture of the facility.

“Numerous healthcare workers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and support staff with no affiliation of the facility choose Britthaven as the center for their loved one to receive care and services,” the release stated. “Several staff members have brought their loved ones to Britthaven.”

The report, based on 2008 data, went on to say that three Kentucky nursing homes, including Britthaven, are on both the GAO list and a list of chronically troubled nursing homes compiled by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Others included Richmond Health and Rehabilitation Complex-Madison — also known as Madison Manor — and Cambridge Place in Lexington.

But administrators emphasized that the facility is currently in compliance with state and federal regulations, and that only minor noncompliances were cited in certification surveys carried out at the facility over the past year.

“As a part of our licensure and certification process thr(ough) the office of the inspector general, we have had two licensure and certification surveys in the past 12 months, with only minor deficiencies cited on each survey,” the statement said. “These deficiencies required a written plan of correction be submitted to the London Office of the Inspector General, but did not require a follow up visit on their part.

“Britthaven of Somerset is currently in compliance with all state and federal regulations that govern nursing facilities,” the statement added.

Also included in the report were comments that Britthaven and Cambridge had shown improvement.

And administrators and staff members at the local long-term care facility think the community should know about those improvements.

The statement continued, stating that the facility’s team of licensed physical and occupational therapists, physical and occupational therapy assistants and speech language pathologists received

recognition from an organization outside of Britthaven as being named the best out of over 50 facilities surveyed related to the F.I.R.S.T philosophy — Fun, Integrity, Respect, Support and Teamwork — during patient therapy.