It’s not uncommon for nursing homes to have several deficiencies. In fact, on average any given nursing home will have 6-7 deficiencies per inspection. However, there is a program that monitors nursing homes with serious quality control issues. The Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program helps loved ones make informed decisions about longterm care facilities. Currently, Texas has the maximum number of nursing homes allowed on the SFF candidate list.
In essence, the SFF program will tell you about the worst-performing nursing homes in the state and what they are doing to improve their quality of care.
What is the Special Focus Facility Program?
The SFF program uses the same methodology used in the health inspection domain of the Five-Star Quality Rating System. Points are given based on the number, scope, and severity of the deficiencies. A nursing facility receives a designation on the SFF candidate list based on the results of three inspections—usually over a three year period. The more deficiencies cited, the more points are assigned.
Many of these nursing homes have serious problems affecting the quality of resident life. Often, nursing homes on this list have significant problems such as:
- Twice the number of average deficiencies as other nursing homes;
- Increased likelihood of personal injury experienced by residents; and
- A pattern of serious problems that persist over a three-year period.
Nursing homes will periodically institute new policies with the goal to correct problems identified during inspections. However, facilities that make the SFF candidate list have significant recurring problems.
How does a home end up on the SFF candidate list?
Facilities with the most points in a state become candidates for the SFF program. In other words, the top worst performing nursing home facilities in a state become a special focus facility. The SFF program has a minimum candidate pool of five nursing homes and a maximum of 30 per state.
Which Texas nursing homes are being watched?
As of December 2019, Texas has no newly added facilities to the SFF program and the state has no homes that have graduated from the program. However, there are 30 Texas nursing home facilities on the SFF candidate list. Those nursing homes are the following:
- Arlington Heights Health and Rehabilitation Center – Fort Worth
- Benbrook Nursing & Rehabilitation Center – Benbrook
- Briarcliff Skilled Nursing Facility- Carthage
- Care Inn Of La Grange – La Grange
- Coastal Palms Nursing & Rehabilitation – Portland
- Colonial Manor Care Center 821 – New Braunfels
- Copperas Hollow Nursing & Rehabilitation Center – Caldwell
- Corinth Rehabilitation Suites On The Parkway – Corinth
- Countryside Nursing And Rehabilitation – Pilot Point
- Focused Care At Allenbrook – Baytown
- Galleria Residence And Rehabilitation Center – Houston
- Hill Country Rehab And Nursing Center – Copperas Cove
- Kleberg County Nursing And Rehabilitation – Kingsville
- Lakeside Nursing And Rehabilitation Center – San Antonio
- Lampstand Nursing And Rehabilitation – Bryan
- Laporte Healthcare Center – La Porte
- Marshall Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center – Marshall
- Pasadena Care Center – Pasadena
- Plum Creek Healthcare Residence – Amarillo
- Retama Manor Nursing Center – Corpus Christi
- Retama Manor/Laredo – Laredo
- River City Care Center – San Antonio
- Rockport Nursing And Rehabilitation Center – Rockport
- Senior Care Of Windcrest – San Antonio
- The Oaks At White Settlement – Fort Worth
- The Palms Nursing & Rehabilitation – Corpus Christi
- Villa Toscana At Cypress Woods – Houston
- West Lake Healthcare Residence – Mesquite
- Willow Creek Healthcare Centre – Mount Vernon
- Willowbrook Residence And Rehabilitation Center – Houston
Texas also has three nursing homes on the “shown improvement” list.
- Focused Care At Corpus – Corpus Christi. This nursing home has been on the SFF list for 27 months.
- Legend Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation, North – Houston. This nursing home has been on the SFF list for 25 months.
- Pecan Valley Healthcare Residence – San Saba. This nursing home has been on the SFF list for 16 months.
In addition, Texas has three facilities on the “not improved” list.
- Heritage House Health Care Centre – Quitman
- Kennedy Health & Rehab – Lufkin
- The Westbury Place – Houston
What should I do with this information?
Knowing the SFF status of a nursing home can ensure your loved one has a positive experience and receives the best possible care.
“We encourage people to avoid these facilities if at all possible,” said Carlson Law Firm nursing home abuse and neglect attorney J.T. Borah. “Not only because they are on this list, but because our firm’s attorneys have had cases against quite a few of them.”
Facilities that make the SFF list tend to go in and out of compliance and hardly address underlying systemic problems. This yo-yo effect leads to serious deficiencies that pose risks to residents. Even if you decide to go with one of these facilities, you know that you must be vigilant in making sure your loved one receives the care they deserve.
The Carlson Law Firm Can Help
The SFF candidate list serves as a guide for families deciding on the next step in their loved ones lives. Texas has the most one and two-star nursing homes in the nation. In many cases, these facilities are understaffed which can lead to serious negligence and injuries. If nursing home negligence or abuse left your loved one with injuries, contact The Carlson Law Firm today. We offer free consultations and are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Your loved one deserves the best representation for injuries caused by nursing home negligence. Our firm handles all areas of nursing home personal injuries.
