The New York Times, Government Accountability Office, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch detail the Missouri DHSS failures referenced in SECTIONS 1 & 2.
- The New York Times: On 5/15/2008, citing a May 2008 GAO report, the New York Times wrote: “Nursing home inspectors routinely overlook or minimize problems that pose a serious, immediate threat to patients, Congressional investigators say in a new report. … [Investigators] from the Government Accountability Office, say they have found widespread ‘understatement of deficiencies,’ including malnutrition, severe bedsores, overuse of prescription medications and abuse of nursing home residents.” The Times article specifically mentions Missouri as among America’s 9 worst at missing these problems.
- The GAO: That same May 2008 GAO report found 9 states missed serious violations in more than 25% of surveys reviewed. Missouri was one of those 9 states, missing serious violations 28% of the time. This failure rate gave Missouri the third worst score in America. See page from GAO report: (unable to post PDF at present)
- The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Missouri also has a history of failing to promptly investigate complaints of abuse, neglect, and other regulatory violations. In a 2003 Post-Dispatch article a DHSS regional manager was quoted: "'We're way behind in our complaint investigations,' said Pam Clark, regional manager for the state Division of Health Standards and Licensure in St. Louis. 'Through triage, we're spending time in the bad facilities and praying that we don't miss something.' …Clark said those [complaints] alleging imminent danger are reviewed within 24 hours but general complaints - such as ‘the place stinks and every time I come in Mom's wet’ - must wait.”
