Admissions to River Park Health Care Center Suspended

Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, has suspended new admissions of residents to River Park Health Care Center effective June 9, 2008, and imposed a one-time state civil monetary penalty of $3,000. The state also has recommended that the federal civil penalty be imposed at $10,000 a day until the violations are corrected. A special monitor has been appointed to review the facility’s operations.

River Park Health Care Center, a 58-bed licensed nursing home located at 1306 Katie Road in Nashville, was ordered not to admit any new residents based on conditions found during a complaint investigation and survey conducted May 14 through June 2. During the survey, surveyors found violations of resident protection, administration, nursing services, performance improvement, resident rights and quality of care standards.

River Park has been designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a Special Focus Facility. This designation requires that the nursing home be inspected and monitored on a more frequent basis due to its recent history of persistently poor survey performance.

The Commissioner may suspend admissions to a nursing home when conditions are determined to be, or are likely to be, detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the residents. The order to suspend admissions remains effective until conditions have been and continue to remain corrected. A copy of the order must be posted at the public entrance where it can be plainly seen.

The nursing home has the right to a hearing regarding the suspension of admissions before the Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities or an administrative judge.