Philly Nursing Home Makes Corrections

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Philadelphia health officials say they have corrected deficiencies at a city-owned nursing home that were uncovered following the suicide attempt of a despondent Covid-19 patient.
Agency spokesman James Garrow said the nursing home had submitted a plan of correction to the state Health Department and after the plan was approved by the state it was fully implemented.
The deficiencies at the more than 400-bed facility were cited in a detailed report on the suicide attempt by an unnamed male patient. Although a physician had made a referral for psychiatric help more than two weeks earlier due to the patient's suicidal ideations, none had been provided when the patient attempted suicide on Aug. 24.
The patient was found at 5:30 a.m. with a cord around his neck. He was hospitalized until Sept. 1 and then returned to the W. Girard Avenue facility.
A psychiatric referral only came after the suicide attempt.
Garrow said the agency, due to confidentiality rules, could not provide any information on the current status of the patient.
Garrow also declined to provide any information on the number of patients at the city nursing home who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 and how many have died from the virus.
Nonetheless reports filed with the state Health Department show 130 residents of the home have been diagnosed with the virus and 11 of them have died.
In its report on the incident, state Health Department surveyors concluded, "It was determined that the facility failed to maintain the highest practicable mental and psycho-social well being."
The nursing home's plan of correction included re-education programs for staff members on the proper treatment of suicidal patients and renewed efforts to identify patients who may be considering suicide.
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