IOWA VETERANS HOME

The nursing staff is the most important part of what determines the quality of care and comfort of a resident in a nursing home. Government regulations set expectations on time spent with each resident based on the services being provided. The breakdown below lists the nursing types (RN, LPN, LVN, CNA) and a comparison of the reported and expected hours per resident per day.

Medicare determines quality of care ratings for nursing facilities by surveying several "quality measures", which are broken down into long-term and short-term stay residents, as well as if the action is preventive or if there is a deficiency in the quality of care. State averages for Iowa are also provided for comparison purposes. Note: Figures below are averaged over the past nine months.

Long-Term Stay Preventive Actions

Long-Term Stay Deficiencies

All Medicare and/or Medicaid certified nursing home must undergo health inspections on average once a year, but may be more frequent if the facility is peforming poorly. These inspections cover most aspects of life in a nursing home, and are broken down into deficiencies types, which including: Pharmacy Service, Administration, Resident Rights, Nutrition and Dietary, Resident Assessment, Environmental, and Mistreatment. Below are the list of deficiencies found by inspectors in the past few years along with the degree of harm and how many residents may have been affected. Note: The most recent health survey was on 04/01/2011.

Environmental

Provide Needed Housekeeping and Maintenance. Inspection Date: 03/26/2010 Correction Date: 04/26/2010
Make Sure That the Nursing Home Area is Free of Dangers That Cause Accidents. Inspection Date: 03/26/2010 Correction Date: 04/26/2010
Have a Program to Keep Infection from Spreading. Inspection Date: 03/26/2010 Correction Date: 04/26/2010
Provide Needed Housekeeping and Maintenance. Inspection Date: 04/01/2011 Correction Date: 05/01/2011
Make Sure That the Nursing Home Area is Free of Dangers That Cause Accidents. Inspection Date: 04/01/2011 Correction Date: 05/01/2011
Have a Program to Keep Infection from Spreading. Inspection Date: 04/01/2011 Correction Date: 05/01/2011
Make Sure That the Nursing Home Area is Safe, Easy to Use, Clean and Comfortable. Inspection Date: 04/01/2011 Correction Date: 05/01/2011
Put Firmly Secured Handrails on Each Side of Hallways. Inspection Date: 04/01/2011 Correction Date: 05/01/2011

Mistreatment

Keep Each Resident Free from Physical Restraints, Unless Needed for Medical Treatment. Inspection Date: 03/26/2010 Correction Date: 04/26/2010

Nutrition and Dietary

Store, Cook, and Give out Food in a Safe and Clean Way. Inspection Date: 03/18/2009 Correction Date: 04/23/2009
Hire Enough Skilled Workers to Carry out Dietary Service. Inspection Date: 03/26/2010 Correction Date: 04/26/2010
1) Provide 3 Meals Daily at Regular Times; or 2) Serve Breakfast Within 14 Hours After Dinner; or 3) Offer a Snack at Bedtime Each Day. Inspection Date: 03/26/2010 Correction Date: 04/26/2010
Store, Cook, and Give out Food in a Safe and Clean Way. Inspection Date: 03/26/2010 Correction Date: 04/26/2010
Store, Cook, and Give out Food in a Safe and Clean Way. Inspection Date: 04/01/2011 Correction Date: 05/01/2011

Quality Care

Give Professional Services That Follow Each Resident's Written Care Plan. Inspection Date: 03/18/2009 Correction Date: 04/23/2009
Give Proper Treatment to Residents with Feeding Tubes to Prevent Problems (Such As Aspiration Pneumonia, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Dehydration, Metabolic Abnormalities, Nasal-Pharyngeal Ulcers) and Help Restore Eating Skills, if Possible. Inspection Date: 04/01/2011 Correction Date: 05/01/2011

Resident Rights

Keep Each Resident's Personal and Medical Records Private and Confidential. Inspection Date: 03/18/2009 Correction Date: 04/23/2009
Provide Care in a Way That Keeps or Builds Each Resident's Dignity and Self Respect. Inspection Date: 03/26/2010 Correction Date: 04/26/2010

The table below lists incident reports by the nursing staff or administration for Iowa Veterans Home, as well as complaints by residents or their family in the previous three years.

Environmental

Make Sure That the Nursing Home Area is Free of Dangers That Cause Accidents. Complaint Filed: 03/18/2009 Correction Date: 04/23/2009
Have a Program to Keep Infection from Spreading. Complaint Filed: 03/18/2009 Correction Date: 04/23/2009
Make Sure That the Nursing Home Area is Safe, Easy to Use, Clean and Comfortable. Complaint Filed: 03/26/2010 Correction Date: 04/26/2010
Make Sure That the Nursing Home Area is Free of Dangers That Cause Accidents. Complaint Filed: 09/30/2010 Correction Date: 10/29/2010
Make Sure That the Nursing Home Area is Free of Dangers That Cause Accidents. Complaint Filed: 01/12/2011 Correction Date: 03/10/2011

Mistreatment

Write and Use Policies That Forbid Mistreatment, Neglect and Abuse of Residents and Theft of Residents' Property. Complaint Filed: 08/28/2008 Correction Date: 09/11/2008

Pharmacy Service

Properly Mark Drugs and Other Similar Products. Complaint Filed: 05/21/2010 Correction Date: 06/24/2010

Quality Care

Make Sure That Residents Who Cannot Care for Themselves Receive Help with Eating/Drinking, Grooming and Hygiene. Complaint Filed: 03/18/2009 Correction Date: 04/23/2009
Provide Activities to Meet the Needs of Each Resident. Complaint Filed: 09/30/2010 Correction Date: 10/29/2010

Resident Rights

Immediately Tell the Resident, Doctor, and a Family Member If: the Resident is Injured, There is a Major Change in Resident's Physical/Mental Health, There is a Need to Alter Treatment Significantly, or the Resident Must Be Transferred or Discharged. Complaint Filed: 08/06/2009 Correction Date: 09/01/2009

Nursing homes certified by Medicare and/or Medicaid are required to have fire safety inspections to meet Life Safety Code (LSC) standards. Below is a list of deficiencies that Iowa Veterans Home had in recent fire safety inspections. This information can be used to see if all standards were met, the degree of harm, the number of residents affected, and the date when deficiencies were corrected. Note: The most recent fire safety survey was on 04/05/2011.

Automatic Sprinkler Systems

An Approved Automatic Sprinkler System Connected to the Fire Alarm System. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
Automatic Sprinkler Systems That Have Been Maintained in Working Order. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
Automatic Sprinkler Systems That Have Been Maintained in Working Order. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011

Building Construction

Approved Construction Type or Materials. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
A Two-Hour-Resistant Firewall in Common Walls. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011

Building Service Equipment

Properly Protected Cooking Facilities. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011

Corridor Walls and Doors

Corridor and Hallway Doors That Block Smoke. Inspection Date: 03/19/2009 Correction Date: 03/27/2009
Corridor and Hallway Doors That Block Smoke. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
Corridor and Hallway Doors That Block Smoke. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011

Electrical

Properly Installed Electrical Wiring and Equipment. Inspection Date: 03/19/2009 Correction Date: 03/27/2009
Properly Installed Electrical Wiring and Equipment. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
Weekly Inspections and Monthly Testing of Generators. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011
Properly Installed Electrical Wiring and Equipment. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011

Fire Alarm Systems

Properly Maintained Smoke Detectors. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
A Fire Alarm System That Can Be Heard Throughout the Facility. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011
An Approved Installation, Maintenance and Testing Program for Fire Alarm Systems. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011
Properly Maintained Smoke Detectors. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011

Hazardous Area

Construction That Can Resist Fire for One Hour or an Approved Fire Extinguishing System. Inspection Date: 03/19/2009 Correction Date: 05/12/2009
Construction That Can Resist Fire for One Hour or an Approved Fire Extinguishing System. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011

Illumination and Emergency Power

Properly Located and Lighted "Exit" Signs. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
Emergency Lighting That Can Last at Least 1 1/2 Hours. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011
Properly Located and Lighted "Exit" Signs. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011

Interior Finish

Fire-Resistant Interior Walls. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010

Medical Gases and Anesthetizing Areas

Proper Medical Gas Storage and Administration Areas. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
Proper Fire Barriers, Ventilation and Signs for the Transport of Oxygen. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010

Miscellaneous

Fire Safety Features Required by Current Fire Safety Codes. Inspection Date: 03/19/2009 Correction Date: 04/06/2009
Fire Safety Features Required by Current Fire Safety Codes. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010

Smoke Compartmentation and Control

Walls or Barriers That Prevent Smoke from Passing Through and Would Resist Fire for at Least One Hour. Inspection Date: 03/19/2009 Correction Date: 04/06/2009
Walls or Barriers That Prevent Smoke from Passing Through and Would Resist Fire for at Least One Hour. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
Smoke Barrier Doors That Can Resist Smoke for at Least 20 Minutes. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
Walls or Barriers That Prevent Smoke from Passing Through and Would Resist Fire for at Least One Hour. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011

Vertical Openings

Proper Stairway Enclosures and Vertical Shafts. Inspection Date: 03/29/2010 Correction Date: 04/28/2010
Proper Stairway Enclosures and Vertical Shafts. Inspection Date: 04/05/2011 Correction Date: 05/04/2011