Medford Nursing Homes Come Up Short In First State Inspection

MEDFORD, MA – Three nursing homes in Medford met the 20-point threshold for compliance in the first round of adherence checks by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. However, the facilities were labeled as not being in adherence because they missed at least one of the six core competency points.

Twelve nursing homes failed to meet the 20-point threshold for compliance. The Medford facilities were among 119 nursing homes that hit the 20-point threshold but failed in one of the six core standards, meaning they were also found to be in noncompliance. These facilities will receive targeted infection control training and be re-audited by May 29.

The remaining 228 nursing homes scored 20 points or higher and met the six core standards.

The inspections were the first in the COVID-19 Nursing Facility Accountability and Support Program announced by Gov. Charlie Baker on April 27. The audits, which are funded by $130 million the Baker administration allocated to slow the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, will be conducted every two weeks.

Earlier this month, there were 54 deaths attributed to the coronavirus at the Courtyard Nursing Care Center alone. Forty-two staff members tested positive for COVID-19, and 117 additional residents were diagnosed with the virus, according to a May 5 statement from the company that runs the facility.

Medford nursing homes included in the report:

• Medford Rehabilitation and Nursing Center scored 26 out of 28 but was labeled as not being in adherence because it missed at least one of the six core compliance points.
• Glen Ridge Nursing Care Center scored 26 out of 28 but was labeled as not being in adherence because it missed at least one of the six core compliance points.
• Courtyard Nursing Care Center scored 27 out of 28 but was labeled as not being in adherence because it missed at least one of the six core compliance points.

The state didn't release a breakdown of scores for individual nursing homes showing where they failed to comply with the standards laid out in the program's compliance checklist.

Long-term care facilities account for 61 percent coronavirus-related deaths in Massachusetts. Of the states 88,970 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday, 18,801 were either patients or workers in long-term care facilities.

Read the complete nursing home inspection report.