Life Care Centers of America explained

Life Care Centers of America
Type:Private
Industry:Elderly Healthcare
Predecessors:-->
Successors:-->
Founded:1970 in Cleveland, Tennessee
Founder:Forrest Preston
Hq Location City:3570 Keith Street
Cleveland, Tennessee
Hq Location Country:United States
Locations:256
Num Employees:42,000
Num Employees Year:2015

Life Care Centers of America is the largest privately held long-term elderly care company in the U.S., with facilities across 27 states, and the third largest in the U.S. It is headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee. According to data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, Life Care Centers of America operates 254 nursing homes with 32,966 beds.[1]

History

Life Care Centers of America was founded by Forrest Preston in 1970, and he remains the sole owner, chairman, and CEO.[2]

Since 1995, the company's headquarters have been located at the Campbell Center at 3001 Keith Street NW in Cleveland in the location of a former shopping mall.[3]

As of 2015, the company employs 42,000 people.

Medicare fraud

In 2016, Life Care agreed to pay $145 million to resolve allegations of over-billing the government for unnecessary or unreasonable rehabilitation services in violation of the False Claims Act. Between Jan. 1, 2006 and Feb. 28, 2013, Life Care submitted fraudulent claims for rehabilitation therapy by engaging in a systematic effort to increase its Medicare and Tricare billings. It was the largest settlement with a skilled nursing facility chain in DOJ history.[4] The suit combined complaints by two separate whistleblowers under the qui tam provision of the Act.[5]

Outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Kirkland, Washington outbreak

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state). A Life Care Center facility in Kirkland, Washington was the source of a major outbreak of COVID-19 first reported on February 19, 2020, which became the first outbreak in a United States nursing home.[6] On February 19 there were 120 residents and 180 Center employees at the facility. By March 18, 101 of the residents had been diagnosed with COVID-19, and thirty-four residents had died, for a case fatality rate of 33.7%.[7] On 2 April 2020 Life Care Center was fined $611,000 for deficiencies in its response to the outbreak, and has until 16 September 2020 to correct the deficiencies, or else face termination of its participation in the Medicare/Medicaid program.[8]

[9]

On February 19, 2020, the first resident was transferred to a local hospital; this resident would test positive for COVID-19.[10] Two residents died on the 26th who would be later confirmed to have had the virus,[11] [12] with the first death being reported on the 29th.[13]

By March 2, three deaths of the six in Washington state were attributed to the location.[14] The center was closed to visitors on the 2nd, with residents encouraged to stay in their rooms. At the time, at least four additional residents and an employee had tested positive for the virus, and over 50 residents and employees were reporting symptoms. Twenty-five of Kirkland's firefighters were in isolation, as they had visited the facility, and two police officers, 17 nursing students and 4 staff from Lake Washington Institute of Technology had been potentially exposed and were being monitored. The Institute of Technology closed its 7,000-student campus for a cleaning and canceled meetings and events.[15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

By March 5, at least 13 residents and 2 workers had tested positive for COVID-19. The death toll in the state had risen to nine with six of the deaths being confirmed to be from residents at the center.[11] The following day gave updated numbers of 18 residents and six workers who were infected with a further 10 cases linked to the site being non-residents who visited the location. Of the 11 deaths in the state, 10 of them were connected with the center.[21]

On March 7, a press conference was held by the center. Of the 180 employees at the center, 70 of them showed symptoms of the virus and had been asked to remain at home. The number of residents still at the facility was down to 63 with 54 residents having already been transported to local hospitals over the course of the outbreak. At this point, 26 residents had died since the outbreak started; with 11 dying at the Center and 15 dying at hospitals in the area. Only 13 of the 15 hospital deaths were confirmed to be from COVID-19 with the causing of the remaining 2 hospital deaths being unconfirmed along with the deaths at the center. All remaining 63 residents at the center were confirmed to be confined in their rooms with six residents showing symptoms. Additionally, it was revealed that the center had received 45 testing kits for COVID-19 on the 5th.[22] [10] In addition to help from the CDC, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent additional medical personnel to the facility.[23]

On March 8, four more residents were transported to hospitals with four others leaving the Center entirely leaving 55 residents at the center.[24] Two deaths from the 6th and 7th were confirmed to be residents from the center, bring the total number of deaths the virus was responsible for to 16 at the center. Further information on the 9th revealed that three previous deaths (one on the 4th, two on the 8th) had been caused by coronavirus, bringing the total to 19.[25] Additionally, the center received a second batch of kits which would be enough to test all remaining residents in addition to testing those who died at the center. 44 of the remaining 55 have been tested. Of the 70 employees with symptoms, three have been hospitalized with one testing positive for the virus. However, the Center does not have enough kits at this time to test all employees.[26] It was revealed over the course of the day that the residents cannot take showers due to the conditions of the quarantine and the lack of showers in the residents' rooms,[24] in addition to the Center staffing being down to three employees covering for the night of the 3rd to the morning of the 4th.[27] In addition, the staff had inadequate personal protective equipment, and were using bag valve masks which are known to increase dispersion of airborne particles.[27]

COVID-19 mortality: March 12–23

Littleton, Massachusetts outbreak

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts. Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton, Massachusetts, experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 in April 2020.[36] [37] The nurse who reported the outbreak later died of the virus.[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Life Care Centers of America, Inc.: A list of nursing homes. 1 Nov 2023.
  2. News: Green. Alex. How Forrest Preston built Life Care Centers into the biggest privately held company in the industry. 13 September 2015. timesfreepress. 27 April 2015.
  3. Web site: New Bradley Square owner ready to grow retail landscape . Davis . David . Clevelanddailybanner.com . Cleveland Daily Banner . 15 March 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407093910/http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/10643646/article-New-Bradley-Square-owner-ready-to-grow-retail-landscape?instance=latest_articles . 7 April 2014 .
  4. Web site: 24 October 2016 . Life Care Centers of America Inc. Agrees to Pay $145 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to the Provision of Medically Unnecessary Rehabilitation Therapy Services . Justice News . U.S. Department of Justice.
  5. News: October 26, 2016 . Life Care Centers of America, Inc. Agrees to Settle Qui Tam Lawsuit Alleging that the Nursing Home Company Billed Medicare and TRICARE for Unnecessary Medical Services; Agrees to Pay $145 Million . .
  6. News: Stockman . Farah . Richtel . Matt . Ivory . Danielle . Smith . Mitch . 'They're Death Pits': Virus Claims at Least 7,000 Lives in U.S. Nursing Homes . 18 April 2020 . The New York Times . 17 April 2020.
  7. McMichael . Temet, Ph.D. . Currie . Dustin, Ph.D. . Clark . Shauna, R.N. . Pogosjans . Sargis, M.P.H. . Kay . Meagan, D.V.M. . Schwartz . Noah, M.D. . Lewis . James, M.D. . Baer . Atar, Ph.D. . Kawakami . Vance, D.V.M. . Lukoff . Margaret, M.D. . Ferro . Jessica, M.P.H. . Brostrom-Smith . Claire, M.S.N. . Epidemiology of Covid-19 in a Long-Term Care Facility in King County, Washington . The New England Journal of Medicine . March 27, 2020 . 382 . 21 . 2005–2011 . 10.1056/NEJMoa2005412 . 32220208 . 7121761 .
  8. https://q13fox.com/2020/04/02/life-care-center-of-kirkland-faces-611000-fine-over-coronavirus-outbreak-response/ Q13 News Staff and Associated Press (2 April 2020) Life Care Center of Kirkland fined $611,000 over coronavirus outbreak response
  9. Web site: As COVID-19 eviction moratoriums expire, Soledad O'Brien examines toll of pandemic on America's most vulnerable (exclusive) . Yahoo . 19 August 2020 . 2020-08-19.
  10. https://www.kuow.org/stories/volatile-and-unpredictable-life-care-speaks-publicly-for-the-first-time-since-covid-19-outbreak Dyer Oxley KUOW (Mar 07, 2020) Center speaks publicly for the first time since COVID-19 outbreak
  11. Web site: Local health officials announce new recommendations to reduce risk of spread of COVID-19 . kingcounty.gov . King County . 4 March 2020 . 5 March 2020 .
  12. News: Jacobo . Julia . Morgan . Winsor . 9th coronavirus death reported in U.S. as virus continues to spread . 11 March 2020 . ABC News online . ABC News . 4 March 2020 . en.
  13. Web site: First death due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in a resident of King County . 29 February 2020 . King County . February 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200301042731/https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/news/2020/February/29-covid19.aspx . March 1, 2020 . live .
  14. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/02/seattle-area-officials-report-3-new-coronavirus-deaths-bringing-us-total-to-5.html Seattle-area officials report new coronavirus deaths, bringing US total to 6
  15. Statement from Life Care Center of Kirkland regarding COVID-19 . Life Care Center of Kirkland . 2 March 2020 .
  16. News: Washington State Declares Emergency Amid Coronavirus Death and Illnesses at Nursing Home . . 29 February 2020. 2 March 2020 . Baker. Mike. Bogel-Burroughs. Nicholas. Weise. Karen.
  17. News: Second Death From Virus Is Reported in the U.S. . . March 2020 . 2 March 2020 .
  18. News: Kirkland, Wash., becomes epicenter of coronavirus response as cases spread . Washington Post . 2 March 2020 .
  19. Web site: Washington coronavirus death occurred at facility owned by Cleveland, Tennessee-based Life Care Centers . timesfreepress.com . 2 March 2020 . 2 March 2020 . Cases of the coronavirus, including a death, have been linked to a nursing home belonging to Cleveland, Tennessee-based Life Care Centers of America, according to CNN. .
  20. Web site: 6 dead, 12 others infected from coronavirus in Washington state . KOMO . 2 March 2020 . 2 March 2020 . The newest victims in King County include: - A man in his 70s, a resident of LifeCare who was hospitalized at EvergreenHealth. The man had underlying health conditions and died Sunday.- A woman in her 70s, a resident of LifeCare, was hospitalized at EvergreenHealth. She had underlying health conditions and died Sunday. .
  21. Web site: Update: King County COVID-19 case numbers for March 6, 2020 - King County . kingcounty.gov . 6 March 2020 .
  22. https://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/life-care-center-of-kirkland-breaks-silence-at-saturday-press-conference/ Life Care Center of Kirkland breaks silence at Saturday press conference
  23. https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/us-department-health-strike-team-work-life-care-kirkland/EYNT43G5ZBH5BKZ3MATJOVVV5A/ Life Care Center of Kirkland gets extra help from CDC
  24. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/still-in-triage-mode-more-residents-employees-of-kirkland-nursing-home-are-hospitalized-with-coronavirus-symptoms/ ‘Still in triage mode’: More residents, employees of Kirkland nursing home are hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms
  25. Web site: 3 More Coronavirus Patients Die, 33 New Cases in King County. 9 March 2020.
  26. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/coronavirus-live-updates-grand-princess-cruise-ship-21/story?id=69467935 Coronavirus live updates: 3 more dead in Washington state, raising US death toll to 22
  27. https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/08/politics/coronavirus-washington-nursing-home-life-care-center-kirkland-cnntv/index.html This nursing home is at the center of Washington's coronavirus. Here's what one first responder saw there
  28. Web site: Update: COVID-19 in King County for March 12, 2020 . Public Health news and blog . King County Public Health Department . 17 March 2020.
  29. Web site: Update on COVID-19 in King County for March 13, 2020 . Public Health news and blog . King County Public Health Department . 17 March 2020.
  30. Web site: Public Health news and blog Update on COVID-19 in King County for March 14, 2020 . Public Health news and blog . King County Public Health Department.
  31. Web site: Public Health news and blog Update on COVID-19 in King County for March 15, 2020 . Public Health news and blog . King County Public Health Department.
  32. Web site: Public Health news and blog Update on COVID-19 in King County for March 17, 2020 . Public Health news and blog . King County Public Health Department.
  33. Web site: Public Health news and blog Update on COVID-19 in King County for March 18, 2020 . Public Health news and blog . King County Public Health Department.
  34. Web site: Public Health news and blog Update on COVID-19 in King County for March 23, 2020 . Public Health news and blog . King County Public Health Department.
  35. Web site: Public Health news and blog Update on COVID-19 in King County for March 24, 2020 . Public Health news and blog . King County Public Health Department.
  36. Web site: Town of Littleton Information Center Littleton MA. www.littletonma.org. 2020-04-13.
  37. Web site: Whistleblower nurse who spoke out about Littleton nursing home dies of COVID-19. 2020-04-12. WCVB. en. 2020-04-13.
  38. Web site: Nurse at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley dies of COVID-19 . Laura. Crimaldi. 11 April 2020. The Boston Globe. en-US. 2020-04-13.

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