NURSING HOME NEEDS TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION

The tragic deaths of four residents at a nursing home in University City, Mo., during extremely hot conditions in April so easily could have been prevented had the air-conditioning system been on.

To compound the problem, paramedics who were called to the nursing home said they met opposition when they told the staff that conditions were so hot inside that the home's residents had to be evacuated.

The Missouri Division of Aging, which is investigating the deaths, has asked only that a federal agency consider decertifying the nursing home, which would prohibit it from receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds. Unfortunately, that action could force the home to shut down. Then where would patients in need of care go?

Instead, the nursing home should be forced to do whatever is necessary to comply with regulations.