Staff: Britthaven has made 'significant' upgrades

Local News

November 25, 2009

By HEATHER PYLES, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Wed Nov 25, 2009, 05:33 PM EST

Staff at Britthaven of Somerset want community members to know the facility has undergone “significant” improvements in just the last 12 months — and they’re proud of it.

“Britthaven has made significant improvements during the past year,” said a statement released from administrator Brian K. Jaggers. “The facility has opened a 15,000 square foot addition for 30 residents. The care and services in the addition are focused for patients who are needing rehabilitation services.”

The statement was written in response to reports that Britthaven had landed, along with 10 other nursing homes in Kentucky, on a list of the “most poorly performing” in the U.S. The list was released by the U.S. Government Account-ability Office (GAO), which provides oversight of federal agencies for Congress.

Administrators at Britthaven say the report paints a skewed picture of the facility.

“Numerous healthcare workers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and support staff with no affiliation of the facility choose Britthaven as the center for their loved one to receive care and services,” the release stated. “Several staff members have brought their loved ones to Britthaven.”

The report, based on 2008 data, went on to say that three Kentucky nursing homes, including Britthaven, are on both the GAO list and a list of chronically troubled nursing homes compiled by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Others included Richmond Health and Rehabilitation Complex-Madison — also known as Madison Manor — and Cambridge Place in Lexington.

But administrators emphasized that the facility is currently in compliance with state and federal regulations, and that only minor noncompliances were cited in certification surveys carried out at the facility over the past year.

“As a part of our licensure and certification process thr(ough) the office of the inspector general, we have had two licensure and certification surveys in the past 12 months, with only minor deficiencies cited on each survey,” the statement said. “These deficiencies required a written plan of correction be submitted to the London Office of the Inspector General, but did not require a follow up visit on their part.

“Britthaven of Somerset is currently in compliance with all state and federal regulations that govern nursing facilities,” the statement added.

Also included in the report were comments that Britthaven and Cambridge had shown improvement.

And administrators and staff members at the local long-term care facility think the community should know about those improvements.

The statement continued, stating that the facility’s team of licensed physical and occupational therapists, physical and occupational therapy assistants and speech language pathologists received

recognition from an organization outside of Britthaven as being named the best out of over 50 facilities surveyed related to the F.I.R.S.T philosophy — Fun, Integrity, Respect, Support and Teamwork — during patient therapy.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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