Magnolia Hall Aces Annual Survey

Magnolia Hall Rehabilitation & Nursing Center received a stamp of approval with no deficiencies for the second year in a row from a State survey team that evaluated the facility in mid-December. Larry Motter, chairman of the Board of Trustees, and George Smith, administrator, credit and thank the staff for this accomplishment.

All nursing homes in Maryland must have a State license to operate and must meet strict standards for patient care, safety, personnel and physical environment. If a nursing home meets other requirements, in addition to these standards, it can receive reimbursement from Medical Assistance and Medicare for the expenses of residents.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is responsible for monitoring nursing homes in the state; its Office of Health Care Quality inspects these facilities regularly. Besides requiring corrections, the State can forbid the home to accept new patients, stop Medicare and Medical Assistance payments to the home, or revoke the home’s license to operate.

Investigative teams survey nursing homes at least once every 12 to 15 months. These teams include registered nurses, dietitians, state fire marshals, resident rights specialist and sanitation experts. Physicians are also available for consultation. To make sure the institution meets all requirements, state inspectors look at everything from infection control, patient care, housekeeping, fire protection, physical safety and maintenance to staffing patterns and staff training.

The annual surveys are unannounced; in this way, the surveyors see how a facility operates on an average day. The team’s report or deficiency list must be posted in the nursing home; it provides a detailed history of a home’s problems and the facility’s efforts to correct them.

Barbara Anthony, RN, acting director of nursing for the Magnolia Hall, reports, "The team was very impressed with the friendly relationship between residents and staff. They noted how easily residents participated in discussions about their care and how few concerns they expressed." The surveyors gave the nursing home excellent marks for its cleanliness.

Magnolia Hall, located on Morgnec Road in Chestertown, is a public not-for-profit organization that is licensed as a long-term comprehensive care facility providing nursing and rehabilitation care. It provides a comfortable, safe and home-like atmosphere for 94 residents. The facility is governed by a Board of Directors that consists of community leaders who volunteer their time and expertise to establish the overall direction of Magnolia Hall, approve capital expenditures, make policy and oversee the facility’s administration.

The nursing home became a member of the Chester River Health System in May 1999; Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital and Chester River Home Care & Hospice are the other members of the group.

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