Nursing Home Operator Ordered To Pay Fine, Increase Staffing
Attorney General Bill Lockyer's (D) office has ordered Irvine-based Sun Healthcare Group, which operates 18 nursing homes in California, to pay $2.5 million and increase nurse staffing for violations of an order to improve care, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 9/15).
The state's action comes after investigations found the nursing home operator had not fully complied with the terms of an October 2001 permanent injunction related to quality-of-care issues.
Under the new agreement, the company is required to provide training to all nurses on prevention of pressure ulcers, accidents and injuries, as well as training on accurate medical record keeping. The company also will be required to increase registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios to the 2002 statewide average and hire an independent wound care monitor who will be selected by and report to the attorney general (Office of the Attorney General release, 9/14).
Sun, which operates 100 nursing homes nationwide, said it has "continued to abide by the initial injunction" (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 9/15).