Columbia nursing home ordered to close

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The state has ordered a Columbia nursing home to close by Dec. 31 after an investigation showed two people who died at the home received inadequate care.

However, an attorney for the company that runs The Williamsburg said he expects the home to stay open after it corrects some problems and provides more information to state regulators.

One resident at The Williamsburg died in October after nurses failed to provide adequate suction for a congested patient, the state said. Another died last month after falling from a bed that allegedly had a broken guardrail.

Harvey Tettlebaum, an attorney for Burgin Health Systems, which operates the home, said he expects the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to allow the home to remain open.

Violations at the nursing home prompted federal fines of $3,050 a day for the 16 days between the two deaths. The home also has been assessed daily federal fines of $150 since Nov. 5.

Medicare and Medicaid will stop paying costs for new residents beginning Dec. 14, said Darrell Hendrickson, deputy director of the Division of Health Standards and Licensure.

Burgin Health Systems of St. Louis has operated The Williamsburg since 1995. The home has 120 beds and 91 residents.

Hendrickson said the home might be allowed to remain open under a new operator if Burgin agrees to go on probation under an agreement that ensures proper safeguards.

A new administrator, Carol Sims, took over the home this week.