The 22News I-Team has received information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health that the Highview of Northampton nursing home in Leeds is under investigation after a finding of immediate jeopardy.
Highview submitted a letter to the department, saying the most serious conditions were being addressed.
“There are rules and regulations what makes for a positive experience in a nursing home or assisted living,” said Ann Moore of Northampton.
Marybeth McCabe, with the Bureau of Health Care Safety & Quality for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, provided this background information into the investigation:
“Following a survey at Highview Nursing Home on May 25, 2018, DPH recommended that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) declare immediate jeopardy at the facility. As a result of this finding, the facility is subject to civil monetary penalties by CMS.
· Under state licensure regulations, DPH froze all admissions to the facility, effective May 25, 2018, and the facility was directed to take immediate corrective action.
· Highview Nursing Home submitted a written allegation to DPH asserting the most serious conditions that led to the finding of immediate jeopardy had been corrected. DPH completed a follow-up visit at the facility, and jeopardy was removed at Highview Nursing Home on May 31, 2018.
· Now that jeopardy has been removed, DPH will provide the facility with a written statement with all deficiencies that were found during the survey. The facility must submit a plan of correction that address how and when each citation will be corrected.
· Due to the ongoing investigation, there is no further information available at this time.”
Timothy Brown, Director of Marketing and Communications for Athena Health Care Systems which owns Highview of Northampton, issued this statement:
“In response to the recent article on Highview of Northampton, the center submitted a Plan of Correction, which was accepted by the state Department of Public Health on 6/1/18, thus removing the “Immediate Jeopardy” finding. A facility-wide education plan and audit of all residents was implemented to ensure continued compliance with all state and federal regulations. Athena Health Care Systems and its managed facilities, including Highview of Northampton, always work within state and federal guidelines and towards excellence in patient care, as our primary focus.”
According to Brown, the facility is awaiting a final visit from the state before they will take additional admissions.
The 22News I-Team will continue to follow this investigation and will provide updates when more information becomes available.
