Highview of Northampton has seen a high number of fines and flagged deficiencies over the last three years. One of the most fined facilities in Massachusetts by the federal government during the same time, it has also not met state standards for registered nurse hours and is above the national average of health citations.
The 120-bed facility is owned by Athena Health Care Systems, a Farmington Connecticut company. The company operates facilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island as well, totaling about 40 facilities in all.
Highview has become the most fined nursing home in all of Western Massachusetts and has received the ninth highest total federal fines across the state over the last three years, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who also has given the facility one star rating. Both Vantage at Wilbraham and Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation in South Hadley also on the list.
A number of issues from above national average level of health citations to missing state standards for registered nurse hours, the facility has seen a number of problems over the last three years. Currently, it ranks in the bottom 2% of facilities based on performance data kept by the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
The company is currently under an agreement with the Attorney General’s Office after a state investigation alleged it provided poor care for people with substance use disorder at multiple facilities, including Highview. Other recent reports have claims from individuals in these facilities about poor conditions.
In total the facility has been fined $363,000 by the federal government in the last three years.
“The Department of Public Health conducts routine onsite inspections of nursing homes to monitor resident safety and quality of care and ensure each facility is meeting its regulatory obligations to provide safe, quality care to residents,” the DPH said in a statement.
As part of this process, DPH surveyors interview residents, examine medical records and review the facility’s policies and procedures to make sure there is a certain standard of care being upheld. The DPH also has the authority to conduct an unannounced, onsite inspection at long-term care facilities whenever if there are concerns resident care and safety, such as in the event of a complaint.
“When DPH receives any incident report from a licensed health care facility or a complaint from a consumer about a health care facility, trained DPH staff carefully review the information provided and gather additional information to determine if further investigation onsite at the facility is necessary,” stated the DPH. “Depending on the information gathered, if, in consultation with the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a determination is made to conduct an onsite investigation, DPH surveyors will conduct an unannounced survey at the facility.”
Additional information on nursing home surveys can be found at www.mass.gov/guides/nursing-home-survey-performance-tool. Quality ratings for nursing homes can be found using the state’s Nursing Home Performance Tool found at mass.gov and the federal government’s Nursing Home Compare on medicare.gov.
In a statement from Athena Health Care Systems, the company expressed pride for the care it offers to the population of its patients facing substance use disorders. They added commitment to providing the highest quality care to residents, specifically through a skilled nursing setting.
“Providing quality care in a skilled nursing setting, particularly one focused on individuals with additional substance use disorder needs, requires a constant focus on quality,” said Athena Health Care Systems in a statement to Reminder Publishing. “At both Highview of Northampton and across all our skilled nursing environments, we have invested in qualified staff, supported their training and worked hard to provide the best possible environment for our residents. This includes access to our leadership team, including our regional Director of Quality Services and Nursing Practices, who supports recruiting, retaining and training clinical team members.”
They added that when issues have been raised in over the last three years, they have addressed them in a timely manner through making changes to policy, facilities, training and programs. According to the company this is done in real time as part of both the regulatory process followed and its commitment to “continuous quality improvement.”
“It is worth noting that many issues that previously have been reported on happened over the past several years. Any identified concerns were addressed at the time and our plans of corrections were submitted to the Department of Public Health.”
Still, Athena Health Care Systems believes it’s a challenging time to provide healthcare services in a community setting and will remain consistent to improving on its quality care.
“It remains a challenging time to provide healthcare services in a community setting — shortages in skilled staff, rising costs for all aspects of operations, unique needs of our patients and a reimbursement model that have not kept up are factors we are addressing,” Athena Health Care Systems added in their statement. “We continue to evaluate the best possible model for meeting the needs of our patient population, consistent with our dedication to high quality care.”
Vantage Health and Rehab of Wilbraham has experienced similar issues. The Wilbraham facility has received $361,000 in fines, according to reports from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its most recent report, dated June 27, 2023, listed $23,640 in fines and 12 deficiencies, including a failure to “secure unattended medications” and have a Registered Nurse on duty for the required weekly hours.
The facility is rated “much below average” at one star by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which includes its “Registered Nurse hours per resident per day” at 12 minutes compared to the state average of 40 minutes and 12 health citations compared to the state average of 11.8.
In a statement to Reminder Publishing, state Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield) spoke out against the recorded conduct at Vantage of Wilbraham, stating, “it is unacceptable that nursing homes do not maintain safe, proper and clean facilities. Vantage Health is a big company that knows better and should do better.”
Puppolo further expressed his support for state action, saying, “I fully support fines and further action by the commonwealth to make sure these facilities are clean, safe and well maintained for the people who live or require care and rehabilitation there. It’s inexcusable and these facilities must be held accountable.”
Reminder Publishing reached out to Vantage of Wilbraham for comment, but did not receive a response before press time.
The Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center, currently operated by BluPoint Healthcare, has been the subject of allegations and evidence of misconduct. Issues have persisted for five months following the change in ownership to BluPoint Healthcare.
South Hadley nursing home employees said they have faced numerous problems, including bounced checks, understaffing, limited resources and unpaid wages.
The situation has led to staff protests outside the facility, where they have highlighted their financial struggles and the inability to meet patients’ basic needs.
Staff members allege they have gone unpaid for four weeks due to bounced checks, causing significant financial hardship and forcing employees to pay out of pocket for materials to care for patients.
The workers also claim that severe staff shortages have forced employees to work over 60 hours per week, leading to extreme fatigue and fear among the staff, jeopardizing both employee well-being and resident safety.
After a joint letter from state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) and state Rep. Dan Carey (D-Easthampton) was sent to Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh requesting their agencies conduct a formal investigation, a Suffolk Superior Court ruling placed Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center under receivership.
The Attorney General’s Office filed for and secured a temporary receiver to take over operations at Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation in South Hadley, Blackstone Valley Health and Rehabilitation in Whitinsville and Mill Town Health and Rehabilitation in Amesbury.
Campbell issued a statement regarding the appointment of a receiver to take over three of Blupoint’s Healthcare’s long-term care facilities.
Campbell said, “When new information revealed the possibility of dangerous understaffing and poor quality of care, my office and the Department of Public Health promptly filed an emergency petition and secured a temporary receiver. Receivership will help stabilize the situation by taking control of finances and supporting daily operations, while protecting the welfare of residents and staff.”
When asked if similar action is being considered for other Highview or Vantage, the Attorney General’s Office declined to comment.
For more information about the situation at Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center, check out Reminder Publishing’s previous coverage at tinyurl.com/38zc4bdf.
