Feds find flaws at Kzoo nursing home

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - One West Michigan nursing home is in the hot seat after a federal inspection of the facility found some alarming concerns -- including patient abuse.

The Borgess Gardens nursing home near Kalamazoo was recently added to the Special Focus Facilities (SFF) list.

The SFF list is a watch list of some of the worst nursing homes across the country. Put together by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the SFF list shows nursing homes with a history of what it calls "serious issues."

On a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being the worst, a federal inspection gave Borgess Gardens a rating of '4' in properly caring for residents who need special care, a '4' in keeping residents safe from medication errors, and a '4' in protecting residents from abuse.

An investigation showed that in December 2010, nursing staff used such force prying apart a patient's legs during a catheterization procedure that the patient was left with bruises and muscles and ligament injuries.

Borgess Gardens administrator Beth Ann Brehm said that the problems weren't widespread and that they were "isolated incidents." But, she said, they are treated seriously.

"They are very important all the same. So the fact that they are isolated incidents does not minimize the seriousness of it, and we take it very, very seriously," said Brehm.

Following the investigation, Borgess Gardens fired three employees, including a nurse. It also changed leadership, bringing in Brehm as a new administrator.

Brehm told Target 8 on Wednesday that being on the SFF list is overwhelmingly disappointing. But, she insists, people can still trust that their loved ones will be taken care of at Borgess Gardens.

"They absolutely are safe to bring their loved ones here," said Brehm. "Borgess Garden is a very reputable, highly favorable nursing home in the Kalamazoo market."

If a facility on the SFF list doesn't improve, it could lose Medicare and Medicaid funding.

But CMS said that facilities on the list are inspected twice as often as others, and that about half of them significantly improve within a couple of years.