Bill revamps nursing home agency

Thursday, April 7th 2005, 7:27 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A state Senate committee Thursday moves to revamp a state board after concerns over why the board had dismissed so many complaints against nursing home administrators.

The bill requires all positions on the Oklahoma Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators be declared vacant on July 1st. A new board be appointed by the governor.

Committee chairman Bernest Cain of Oklahoma City says recent news articles show the board had dismissed 83 percent of its cases over the last three years.

They included cases in which nursing home residents died, suffered burns or other serious injuries or were victims of abuse and neglect.

Officials say a problem existed because a subcommittee of the board initially handled serious complaints that never went before the full board.

The new board will consist of 13 members, including five owners or licensed administrators. The other members of the board cannot have an interest in nursing homes.