California Department of Veterans Affairs Revamps Veterans Homes Division; Changes Provide New Direction in Health Care Treatment.News Editors/Government Writers SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2003 Today, Secretary K. Maurice Johannessen K. Maurice Johannessen served as a State Senator for the U.S. state of California from 1993 until 2002. He was elected to the State senate after Mike Thompson vacated the 4th senate district seat mid-term to run for another Senate seat that had just been vacated. announced several changes within the Veterans Home Division of The California Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs is a term of the business that deals with the relation between a government and its veteran communities, usually administered by the designated government agency. . "The changes being implemented will address problems that have been ailing the Veterans Homes Division for some time," commented the Secretary. "The entire Division has been under close scrutiny for several months, and I believe these operational changes will be for the better, providing the best possible healthcare for California's veterans," he added. Some of the changes to occur will be the placement of a new Deputy Secretary of the Homes Division who oversees all three Veterans Homes, administration changes at the three Homes, and the hiring of licensed nursing administrators with strong nursing home background. Also, to better meet the needs of nursing home residents, physician services will be restructured at all the Homes. In addition, there will be a much more aggressive quality management program put in place. The review process was undertaken by a team of experts in the nursing home profession assembled as·sem·ble v. as·sem·bled, as·sem·bling, as·sem·bles v.tr. 1. To bring or call together into a group or whole: assembled the jury. 2. by Undersecretary Tom Kraus, himself a former nursing home owner home owner home n → propriétaire occupant , chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. , and administrator. The team, comprised of respected nursing home professionals, included a clinical pharmacist pharmacist /phar·ma·cist/ (fahr´mah-sist) one who is licensed to prepare and sell or dispense drugs and compounds, and to make up prescriptions. phar·ma·cist n. , dietitian dietitian /di·e·ti·tian/ (di?e-tish´in) one skilled in the use of diet in health and disease. di·e·ti·tian or di·e·ti·cian n. A person specializing in dietetics. , nurses, and physicians. Together, they thoroughly reviewed the operations of the three State Veterans Homes at Barstow, Chula Vista Chula Vista (ch  `lə), city (1990 pop. 135,163), San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1911. , and Yountville and have arrived at the following
conclusions and recommended changes.That team has consistently identified the following: -- The new Homes at Barstow and Chula Vista were organized on a physician-driven acute care model that is not appropriate for the continuum of long-term care offered at these Homes, particularly in the nursing homes. -- The Homes' senior management lacks nursing home-experienced nursing and long-term care leadership. The licensed Nursing Home Administrators (responsible for the operations of the licensed nursing home unit of the Homes) report to Home Administrators (responsible for the operation of the entire Home) who lack experience in nursing home operations, confusing leadership direction. -- These flawed elements of the current Homes model result in inappropriate care and difficulties in complying with California nursing home licensing requirements. For example, the Barstow nursing home unit was decertified from Medicare and MediCal participation in 2000, causing the loss of several million dollars of reimbursement while the Home attempted to regain full compliance with regulatory requirements. The following changes to the Veterans Home Division and the three Homes will be implemented beginning on February 1, 2003: -- The current Deputy Secretary of the Homes Division will vacate To annul, set aside, or render void; to surrender possession or occupancy. The term vacate has two common usages in the law. With respect to real property, to vacate the premises means to give up possession of the property and leave the area totally devoid of contents. that position to assume leadership of the planning and construction team that will manage development for the five new Veterans Homes approved by recent legislation. -- A nursing home operations professional has already been nominated nom·i·nate tr.v. nom·i·nat·ed, nom·i·nat·ing, nom·i·nates 1. To propose by name as a candidate, especially for election. 2. To designate or appoint to an office, responsibility, or honor. to replace the current Deputy Secretary of the Homes Division. -- The current Skilled Nursing Home Administrators at both the Barstow and Chula Vista Homes will absorb the duties of the current Home Administrators, pending a search. -- Nursing Administrators with strong nursing home backgrounds will be recruited for any vacated positions, increasing the nursing operational emphasis and depth. -- For the first time, a licensed nursing home administrator will be appointed to head the nursing home unit at the Yountville Veterans Home. -- Physician services will be restructured at all Homes to better serve the needs of nursing home residents. Ongoing training in Geriatrics geriatrics (jĕrēă`trĭks), the branch of medicine concerned with conditions and diseases of the aged. Many disabilities in old age are caused by or related to the deterioration of the circulatory system (see arteriosclerosis), e.g. and long-term care long-term care (LTC), n the provision of medical, social, and personal care services on a recurring or continuing basis to persons with chronic physical or mental disorders. will be emphasized. -- The Homes Division Headquarters will staff an aggressive quality management program with Quality Assurance Nurses, a Division Medical Officer, and other professionals. This team will set standards, measure results by regular surveys of the Homes, and train staff to achieve full licensing compliance and an improved quality of life and care for the Veteran residents. Undersecretary Tom Kraus commented, "This has been a very long, tedious, and thorough review of the operations of the Veterans Homes. The recommendations offered by the team of experts, and now being implemented, will go a long way in resolving past issues at the Homes while improving future operations and care for the residents." Mr. Kraus added, "The results will take some time, but we are optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op that we have the right structure and plan for correcting the historical problems at the Homes. Our goal is to make California's Veterans Homes the model for the nation." Note to Editors: This release and previous press releases are available via fax by News On Demand at 800/356-8440. |
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