MDH assumes control of Minneapolis nursing home to protect residents

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2014

MDH assumes control of Minneapolis nursing home to protect residents

The Minnesota Department of Health assumed management of Camden Care Center in Minneapolis on Friday due to dire management problems at the facility.

MDH took over management of the nursing home under a receivership order granted by Ramsey County District Court. MDH has arranged for Volunteers of America ‑ National Services, a Minnesota nonprofit corporation, to serve as the facility’s managing agent during the receivership. Residents and staff were informed of the change on May 30, 2014.

MDH used its emergency powers to assume control of the nursing home due to serious violations putting its residents at risk and an unacceptably high number of regulatory violations at the facility. MDH took action after management failed to correct numerous serious problems. In March 2014, MDH cited the nursing home for 47 violations. A follow-up inspection in May found 33 violations. Several violations were of a serious nature that posed a significant risk for residents. There are also concerns about the financial stability of the facility.

“We took this step as a last resort because the nursing home licensee was not keeping residents safe and was not meeting Minnesota’s basic standards of care,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Edward Ehlinger.

The 87-bed facility has been operated by Videll Healthcare Camden, L.L.C., as licensee, under a lease agreement with Irvine, California- based SABRA Health Care REIT, which purchased the facility in 2012. The facility has a mix of residents including those receiving senior care, dementia care, mental health care, and chemical dependency treatment. The management of the facility failed to maintain a basic level of safety and security, as demonstrated by the finding that two residents accessed drugs or alcohol while at the facility. Both of these residents required medical treatment and hospitalization in May, and one of them required intubation due to acute alcohol intoxication. There were also violations related to a wide range of legal requirements designed to ensure safe health care. After finding these violations in May, and until the receivership was ordered, the department increased monitoring and oversight to protect patients.

“We are assuring family members and the residents of the facility that they can safely stay at the facility while the situation is being worked out,” said MDH Compliance Monitoring Director Darcy Miner. “In the coming weeks, MDH will work with the department’s receivership managing agent of the facility to assess the next steps.”

Nursing home receiverships are authorized by state law and used only in emergency situations. The department’s goal is to end the receivership as quickly as possible while still protecting residents’ needs. By law, the receivership cannot exceed 18 months. In a receivership, MDH becomes responsible for operations and finances of the nursing home. It typically appoints a managing agent to conduct the daily work of managing the home.

-MDH-

Media inquiries:

Scott Smith
MDH Communications
651-201-5806