Admissions To Hillcrest West Nursing Home Suspended

Knox County Nursing Home Cited For Violations

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, has suspended new admissions of residents to the Hillcrest West nursing home effective March 3, 2009, and imposed a one-time state civil monetary penalty of $5,000. A special monitor has been appointed to review the facility’s operations.

Hillcrest West, a 194-bed licensed nursing home located at 6801 Middlebrook Pike in Knoxville, was ordered not to admit any new residents based on conditions found during a complaint investigation conducted January 28 through February 23. During the survey, surveyors found violations of the following standards: performance improvement and nursing services.

Hillcrest West 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.