Sunday, November 5, 2017

Taking a Close Look at Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing Home


After World War II, family life changed in the United States. Life was more nomadic, and many had no time for older family members. Several across the country saw the handwriting on the wall and established nursing homes. One such home was built in Florence. When the owners, sometime in the early 1950s, saw the need to divest themselves of the project, Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital purchased the home. It was an ideal fit for the hospital and was dubbed Mitchell-Hollingsworth. 

Years passed, and in the early 2000s, the Coffee Health Group fell on hard financial times. The CHG sold Mitchell to private investors. Was it a good move or a bad move? Who exactly owns it now?

According to documents filed with the Alabama Secretary of State, Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing Home and Rehab Facility, LLC, is owned by James P. Walker Jr., Michael Ward, Sandra Keener, and Jerry Culberston. The owners list Centre, Alabama, as home base. Yes, that's pretty far afield from here, and you can bet monetary gain is the driving force behind any actions taken at the home. 

Mitchell with 222 beds is one of the largest homes in the Shoals area. Its rehab unit is indeed big business, with payment for services almost always assured by Medicare. It hasn't been without problems, and approximately two years ago its CNA training program was placed on suspension for one year. A source familiar with Alabama nursing home law tells us this was one step away from shutting down the whole facility which lacked appropriate oversight.

Does it all boil down to poor oversight, mismanagement, sub-par hiring practices? There are probably at least 20 reasons for Mitchell's poor performance, but they all add up to what most would call inferior patient care. 

Two months ago, a Facebook post exposed a patient left to lie in his own excrement...a patient who was paying 6,200.00 a month to live at the alleged poorly run facility. Now we're told there's been a reported sexual assault committed by a male CNA against a male patient. The patient suffered a broken wrist as a result, as well as other injuries. 

No, the alleged sexual assault won't be as easy to prove as the case of the overflowing ostomy bag which was documented in photos. A rape kit has been done, a CNA has been terminated, but no criminal charges have been filed as of Sunday night. 

What kind of man rapes an elderly invalid? While we're asking, let's also ask what kind of company hires a man who would rape an elderly invalid?

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Own property in Colbert County at least six years ago? Were your taxes fair? Let us hear from you. 




6 comments:

  1. The questions now are why has he not been arrested and HOW MANY other patients did he rape????

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    1. Profound post. We're going to try to address reasons for arrest in Monday's blog.

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  2. Was not a background check completed on all employees who work with and/or have contact with the patients? It is probable that this CNA has a prior history of this type behavior so is a thorough investigation being done with his prior employments? And why is he not in jail?

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    1. Pam Cox is the HR manager. Many have told us she is in over her head at the facility. Looks like time for a new broom.

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  3. I understand that there was an RN working as a supervisor months ago whose license was suspended in Tennessee. She worked at Mitchell for months providing care with no license.

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    1. We've had several inform us that the HR director is not qualified. This would seem to prove their point.

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