AS AUDIT STANDARDS INCREASE, RHC SERVICES IMPROVE

April 11, 2016:  Response by Saskia Davis to S. Frame Invitation for Viewer Comment Story

Hello, Susannah,
This is a new comment for publication in your story on comments.

About half of the homes at Fircrest School are in it's campus-based  Nursing Facility.  In  their  closing remarks, Feb. 4, this year,   Federal Standards Auditors  referred Fircrest's Nursing Facility as "the cadillac of nursing homes."   This year, Nursing Facility auditors could find only one small area to cite for improvement.

The other  homes are in the Intermediate Care Facility.  Last year, new auditing standards were the cause of citations that resulted in  admissions  holds being elected by Washington's  3 state-operated  Intermediate Care Facilities'  administrations. Given a choice between risking decertification by being re-audited in 90 days or taking more time to develop programs that they could be sure would meet the new standards, all of the RHCs chose the latter option, even though it meant that admissions would be frozen for the length of the time until  re-audit was requested by each facility.  Fircrest School is now ready with it's newly developed  programs  for the reaudit. The auditors do not announce when they will arrive, but they are expected to return soon.

From the point of view of parents and guardians of RHC residents, the fact that, historically and currently,  the Federal auditing standards are frequently raised is a good thing. It means that "institutional" care and quality of care  keeps getting better and better. Because of the audits, we sleep better at night.  We worry that there continue to be fewer audits and by lower standards in the community-at-large residences that are operated by state supported businesses.  Residents of those facilities deserve the same protections as those afforded RHC residents.

Thanks very much, Susannah.  I'm looking forward to your  story featuring our comments.

Sincerely,
Saskia Davis, RN, Family Guardian