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Alabama's Department of Public Health Puts Veterans Nursing Home on Probation

There was something wrong with the Birmingham (Al.) Press-Register headline, “Something Wrong in State Veterans Homes.” Truth is, many things are wrong.

The story read like a failed inspection report. Generating publicity this time were two deaths linked to falls at the William F. Green Veterans Nursing Home in Bay Minette, Alabama. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) found that staff at Green ignored resident monitoring protocol after those falls.

In March, a man died in his bed 10 hours after a fall. In May a man died en route to the hospital hours after a fall.

Then, Green staffers located a resident with dementia sitting in his wheelchair alongside the four-lane Highway 59, almost 400 yards from the nursing home, in September. It was the second time that day the resident had left the home.

In late November, Director David Grimes resigned and the facility’s license was given a 1-year, probationary status. The home is operated by HMR Governmental Services of South Carolina. In June 2004, HMR signed a 5-year, $122 million contract with Alabama to operate all three veterans nursing homes in the state, according to the Birmingham News.

Green Problematic Since it Opened

Since it opened in 1995, Green has been plagued by problems.

Just a year after opening, the facility was cited for alleged patient neglect and abuse. In 1997, District Attorney David Whetstone and the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department brought a criminal investigation before a grand jury, which ended up dismissing charges. However, the first of what would be five management companies cut ties with Green, rather than face a license-revocation hearing. The same year, Baldwin County Commissioner Frank Burt reported the home had delinquent bills, including one from its own pharmacy.

In 1998, Gov. Fob James appointed a legal task force to investigate. The team found substandard care in all three facilities and said each was understaffed. Compared to deficiencies at Green, inspectors found minimal problems at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City and the Floyd E. Fann State Veterans Home in Huntsville.

In 1999, the ADPH threatened license revocation after it discovered resident pressure sores, medication errors and failure to control aggressive and sexually inappropriate behavior among residents. In 2004, state legislators at a hearing fielded complaints about Green, ranging from inadequate staffing to soiled towels.

A statement from ADPH said, “We will monitor HMR's progress toward becoming a fully licensed health-care provider.” That will include inspections at all three homes, the statement said.

HMR Regional Director Robert Graham said his staff has assessed all Green residents for their risk of leaving the facility. He also said duties for top administrators at Green have been reviewed.

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