Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Florida Orders Brain-Injury Center to Move Some Patients



A Florida brain-injury center facing allegations of abuse has been ordered to move dozens of its patients to other facilities, according to a state report released today.

The Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation, one of the largest facilities of its kind in the country, is treating patients without brain injuries -- a breach of its license, say Florida regulators.

During a surprise inspection earlier this month, state officials say they found that 50 of 98 patients whose records were reviewed did not meet the licensing criteria for treatment at the center’s main facility near Wauchula, about 50 miles Southeast of Tampa.

The state said the institute, commonly called FINR, must submit a plan to relocate those patients to a facility “that is appropriate to meet their needs.”

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration also found that FINR was keeping patients too long, another violation of its “transitional living facility” license. It ordered the center to develop a new protocol for discharging patients.

Wayne J. Miller, an attorney representing FINR, didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment.

Surprise Inspection

Investigators from three state agencies conducted a surprise inspection on Aug. 2 and 3 following a Bloomberg News report of dozens of cases of alleged abuse and neglect at the facility. FINR, a for-profit company, treats patients from across the country.

Related: Abuse Of Brain Injured Americans Scandalizes U.S.

Patients’ families or state agencies have alleged abuse or care lapses in at least five residents’ deaths since 1998, two of them in the last two years. Three former employees face criminal charges of abusing FINR patients -- one of whom was allegedly hit repeatedly for two hours in a TV room last September.

Florida’s Department of Children and Families has received 514 allegations of abuse or neglect at FINR since 2005, including 37 that were “verified” by its investigations, according to records released by the agency. Investigators are still reviewing 23 of the claims.

Amid the heightened regulatory scrutiny, 10 lobbyists from four different firms registered with Florida officials this month with the state to represent FINR, according to state records.


Full Article & Source:
Florida Orders Brain-Injury Center to Move Some Patients

See Also:
Abuse of Brain Injured Americans Scandalizes U.S.

Florida Ended Death Probe at Private Brain Rehab Center

Florida's Most Vulnerable in Danger of Abuse

Florida Brain-Injury Center Gets Surprise Inspection

Connecticut Pulls Disabled From Site of Alleged Beatings

Police Probe Death of State Psychiatric Patient in Florida

7 comments:

Norma said...

I am astounded to see all that is hanppening in this case and all of it because of Bloomberg News!

Thelma said...

According to the complaint, his father, in the same business earlier, was investigated by the FBI.

NASGA MEMBER said...

POWER OF THE PRESS!!! Applause and standing ovation to Bloomberg News and reporter David Armstrong. You are making a difference- thank you so much and with deep appreciation from a member of NASGA.

StandUp said...

What gets me is that it takes the Bloomberg News to light a fire in the state of FL, a state built for tourism.

I guess FL has a new meaning for the term, "Tourist Trap."

Bella said...

It's so hard to watch the video. How can people be so mean to helpless people? It makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

This is great investigative reporting and I just bet everyone at FINR (meaning the owners and bigshots) are nervous.

Betty said...

Hooray for David Armstrong. The victims at FINR have found a real champion and I can just imagine the smiling faces of the victims and their families each time a new article comes out.

I know all of us at NASGA are smiling!