The Tennessee Department of Health has suspended new admissions of patients to Hermitage Health Center located in Elizabethton, TN. The state imposed a civil monetary penalty of $1,500 and recommended a federal civil penalty be imposed at $3,550 a day until the violations are corrected. A special monitor will be appointed to review the center’s operations.
The fines and suspensions were based on conditions found during an annual survey conducted July 17 – 20, 2007. During the investigation, surveyors found violations of quality of care, nursing services, resident protection, physician’s orders and performance improvement standards. Specifically, the deficiencies related to failure of staff to ensure physician’s orders were followed; failure of the staff to obtain in a timely manner laboratory services; and failure of facility’s performance improvement committee to identify staff’s problems following physician’s orders and obtaining laboratory services.