The Maryland Office of Health Care Quality has asked the U.S. government to cut off federal payments to a Bethesda nursing home, under fire for six months over deficiencies in care. The nursing home, Bethesda Health and Rehabilitation, has been faulted in several inspections. Two elderly women, one a tracheotomy patient, have died and a resident, with a history of delusions and hallucinations, was allowed to leave the nursing home for a hair appointment. She never reached the hair salon and instead spent the day riding on the Metro and on a bus. A police officer eventually found her and took her home.
Sava Senior Care of Atlanta, which owns the nursing home, is a privately held company that operates 185 nursing homes in 18 states, including nine others in Maryland