Gracewood facility ordered to make corrections

GRACEWOOD - Gracewood State School and Hospital has until July 13 to come into compliance with federal regulations or lose eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid funding. <br> <br> Federal inspectors said they found patients in ``immediate jeopardy&#39;&#39; at the institution for the mentally disabled during a June 20 inspection. <br> <br> Gracewood CEO, Bruce Callander, said that it was a matter of training and procedure and that he was confident the corrections would be accepted. <br> <br> Surveyors from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services conducted the inspection after a complaint, said Joyce Lang, executive assistant to the regional administrator. <br> <br> Although she could not release some details, she said there was a problem with restraints. ``There were injuries and potential for further harm to residents,&#39;&#39; Lang said. <br> <br> Callander said the problem was with one patient who fell while being held. <br> <br> ``It was a broken wrist,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> The facility still received an ``immediate jeopardy&#39;&#39; violation, Lang said. <br> <br> ``Immediate jeopardy is one of the strongest kinds of deficiencies a facility can have,&#39;&#39; she said. ``And that means that they need to correct it immediately to protect the residents.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Lang said plan of correction has been submitted and is under review. <br> <br> ``Most facilities, once they are given this notice of termination, they are able to do whatever it takes to correct their problems and remain open,&#39;&#39; she said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/6/193071