Meeting Public Comments

John Hale [The Hale Group]

These comments are made as a citizen who advocates to improve the lives of nursing home residents and the paid and unpaid caregivers who serve and support them.I find the background of and purpose for this legislation to be confusing.My request of the committee and for DIAL is to:GENERAL: Clarify what the current law is and what is being changed and why?SPECIFICALLY: Clarify the process in place that DIAL surveyors currently use as they finish their work in a facility. My understanding is that an "exit interview" is conducted to discuss findings and for the facility to make comments and provide explanation. If that is the case, why is an additional opportunity needed for the facility to provide more "context or evidence?"It is also my understanding that when an "immediate jeopardy" situation is identified, the facility must abate the situation before the surveyors leave. It is unclear what purpose is served by having another discussion of what happened and why.My concern is that, as has been seen in too many situations where nursing home abuse or neglect occurs, the facility shifts the blame for the unacceptable service to the front line worker; saying that the individual employee failed to do their job rather than accepting responsibility for failing to adequately train the employee on the tasks to be performed, for failing to provide that employee with adequate supervision, or for failing to provide enough coworkers to enable the employee(s) to adequately serve the residents that need their help.When substandard care is being provided, it's important to find out why and for facilities to be accountable for it. DIAL needs to ensure that the numerous opportunities for "context or evidence" do not lead to accepting substandard care or for watering down the citations called for. Thank you for considering these views.