PHOENIX (FOX 10) -- Officials with Hacienda
HealthCare announced on Thursday that it will begin to transition
clients and eventually cease operation at one of its facilities.
"After
careful consideration, the Board of Directors have come to understand
that it is simply not sustainable for us to continue to operate our
ICF-ID (Intermediate Care Facility for the Intellectually Disabled).
Thus, we will begin to transition clients and eventually cease
operation," read a memo sent to staff members, which was obtained by FOX
10.
In the memo, officials say the transition will be a team effort, and may
last many months. Officials also say the company will do everything in
its power to help employees impacted by the change to secure employment
within its other programs or within the community, and will, in the
meantime, work with the state closely to ensure every patient's safety,
security, and care.
In an official statement released Thursday afternoon, Hacienda
HealthCare officials say the decision to shut down was made, following a
Board of Directors vote on February 1.
Hacienda HealthCare been the focus of international attention, after a baby was born to an incapacitated woman at one of their facilities. A suspect, identified as 36-year-old Nathan Dorceus Sutherland,
has since been arrested in connection with the incident. Sutherland was
a licensed practical nurse who surrendered his license after his
arrest, and he has pleaded not guilty in court.
In
the memo, officials alluded to the incident involving the incapacitated
woman, saying that in the aftermath of the incident, they have had to
make a "complex set of changes to virtually every aspect of how Hacienda
does business, following directives from multiple state agencies".
In January, state regulators ordered Hacienda HealthCare officials to find a third party-manager
for its facilities, and on January 30, officials with Indiana-based
Benchmark Human Services say they have been contracted by Hacienda to
act as a third-party manager.
On Wednesday, however, Courtney Heiser with Benchmark released a
statement to FOX 10, saying the company failed to reach an agreement
with Hacienda at the end of the week last week. Benchmark's statement
came just one day after Arizona state regulators say Hacienda is not in compliance with state directives
by failing to appoint a third-party manager for its facilities, and
orders the facility to outline, in detail, their plan to comply with all
issued directives no later than the end of the week.
In addition,
Gov. Doug Ducey has pressed the state's Attorney General, Mark
Brnovich, to begin a criminal investigation on Hacienda HealthCare,
and directed state agencies to better protect patients with
disabilities.
A representative with AHCCCS called the decision to
close "disturbing", and encouraged Hacienda to find a path forward,
saying the closure is not in the best interest of patients.
Meanwhile, a mother who has moved her daughter away from the facility says she is happy the facility is closing.
"I'm
glad they are," said Karina Cesena. "I was shocked that it took this
long, but I'm very happy that they're taking steps forward to make sure
their patients are safe."
Cesena moved her daughter out of
Hacienda two weeks ago, after what happened to the incapacitated woman.
She was concerned about safety and has found a new facility.
"It's
very tiresome too, because we worried so much about how we're going to
do it, where we're going to go, and I stayed with her 24/7 until we
figured out where we're going to go," said Cesena.
For Cesena, the incident at Hacienda will forever be on her mind.
"They
need to re-do an administration, a board," said Cesena. "They need to
revamp the whole thing for people who actually know what they're doing
in there."
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Hacienda HealthCare to cease operation at South Phoenix facility
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