I read with interest an article which appeared in the Roanoke Times today. The article entitled, “Roanoke Council OKs Expansion of Nursing Home” was written by Mason Adams. The article reported that Roanoke City Council voted 6-0 yesterday to approve a 3,000-square-foot expansion of the Raleigh Court Health & Rehabilitation Center for a physical therapy unit. The anticipated cost is $750,000.
Why does this interest me? Because Raleigh Court Health & Rehabilitation is owned by Medical Facilities of America (MFA), which is located here in Roanoke…and this is no “mom and pop” organization. MFA is one of the largest nursing home chains in America with nursing homes throughout Virginia and North Carolina! When I attempt to hold one of MFA’s nursing homes accountable for the poor care of one of its residents, I am told by the facility’s Administrator and attorneys that MFA just doesn’t have the money to hire all of the nurses and aides needed to care for every need of every resident. I am told that the Medicaid reimbursement rate is so low that running a nursing home is barely profitable!
Doesn’t look like coming up with $750,000 was any trouble! How many nurses and nurse aides could be hired for $750,000? At an average salary of $25,000, MFA could hire an additional 30 nurses and aides. Think what that would do to improve patient care!