George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans’ Home
Second Veterans’ Home in UtahConstruction completed November 2009Dedication November 19, 2009First Veteran admitted January 26, 201021st Veteran admitted March 10, 2010120 bed facility. Largest Veterans’ Home in State
Four separate communities of 30 Veterans One 30 bed Memory Care Community Three 30 bed Skilled Nursing Care Communities
All sleeping areas are private Some bathrooms are shared
George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans’ Home
Administration of the Veterans’ Home Contracted to Avalon Health CareCurrently 126 employees (new jobs in the county)
State Officer is the representative at the Home for oversight and Veterans’ advocacy
Census as of this morning 97Two Female Veterans86 Male VeteransTwo spouse and veteran live in HomeSeven surviving spouses
VA Recognition Survey ProcessSLVA Medical Center of Jurisdiction
Three members covered administration and financeFinance completed on first day
Ascellon CorporationFour members
Three nurses covered operations, dietary, nursing Former Marine fire fighter covered life safety
Worked very well together as a team and with the Veterans’ Home staff
VA Recognition Survey ProcessVery professional approach
Instructive not DestructiveVery detailed Allowed for on-the-spot correctionsLooked at every standard as a training opportunityVery patient in working through each issueThis does not mean it was easy. You have to be
prepared and ready.
VA Recognition Survey Process158 Standards plus Life Safety Inspection
All standards must be passed with “MET” statusAll Life Safety items must be met with no deficiencies
Three Day Process 0800 In-Brief1500 – 1700 Out-Brief
Dietary
Asked detailed questions of staff Allowed for on-the-spot corrections
Eye Wash Stations Had passed three previous surveys Legitimate concern with hot water scalds Worked with maintenance manager to install working
solution
Human ResourcesMost stressful time was the preparationHeard that the survey was “Brutal”Worked with us to find solutionsGreat coaching and mentoring
NursingExtremely thoroughVery knowledgeable in all areas of patient careSpent a great deal of time with the VeteransMore interested in systems than dotted i’s and
crossed t’s Our systems were improved and we are providing
better care due to the survey
Medical RecordsProcess went wellIt was the best survey I have ever experienced.Team was insightful, helpful and willing to work with
the staffIt was a positive experience to work with them.
Life SafetyFormer Marine/Former fire fighter doing Life Safety –
Watch Out!In Reality – Very instructive and focused on the
Veterans’ safetyHeavy on needing written logs to back up
inspections and maintenanceOne area that still is subjective from surveyor to
surveyorSLVH inspection criteria were slightly different
Social WorkerRAP notes were “Canned”
Survey Team helped our understanding of how to improve the RAP notes to make them more effective
Very focused on trainingGood experience which has helped improve the care
to our Veterans
OVERALLGood learning experienceWe had systems in place and working well in
advance of the Survey Team arrivalStaff did not “Fight” any areas
Disagreements were allowedWorked together for solutions
The Veterans’ Home staff and I were very appreciative of the work done by the Survey Team
“Oh By the Way, We Passed!”