
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, August 20, 1993                   TAG: 9308200231
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By CAROLYN CLICK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NURSING HOME FORBIDDEN ANY NEW PATIENTS

The Virginia Department of Health has ordered a Roanoke nursing home to cease accepting patients until it corrects deficiencies and brings the facility in line with state guidelines, officials said Thursday.

Priscilla Townsell, a medical facilities inspection supervisor with the Department of Health Facilities Regulation, said a June 23 department survey of Avante of Roanoke Health Care Center unveiled problems, although she declined to detail what the department team found.

Townsell said the survey was part of the nursing home's annual inspection.

Avante administrator Bruce Wood said the problems stemmed mainly from record keeping and operational procedures and did not involve abuse or neglect of patients.

"Direct care has not been jeopardized," Wood said. "We're not beating anybody. We are not neglecting anybody. The residents are not in jeopardy."

Wood said the staff is working long hours to bring the facility back into compliance. He said he hoped to resolve the problems by next week.

Avante has been the target of several complaints brought to the attention of the League of Older Americans, which runs an ombudsman program under the auspices of the Virginia Department for the Aging.

Kevin McCullough, the league's public information officer, said five cases involving Avante were resolved last fall, although the details are confidential. He said he could not say how many complaints remain under investigation.

The ombudsman program assists consumers - including patients, families and staff - by investigating allegations. The findings are supplied to state officials.

"We are totally separate from licensing or regulation," said Norma McCroskey, the league's director of long-term care. "We do take complaints and attempt to revolve issues with residents of long-term care facilities."

Avante is on King George Avenue and is home to 141 residents. It formerly was known as the Liberty House Nursing Home but changed hands two years ago.

Wood said the nursing home and others in the Avante chain are owned by the Florida-based Avante Group Inc. He has been administrator at the facility for two years.

by CNB