Following on the well publicized nursing home violations at the Westside Health Care Center and The Terrace at Westside, the Cincinnati Health Department has been stripped of its ability to license and inspect nursing homes.

Cincinnati City Council members determined that that city health inspectors failed to protect some of the community's most frail residents. The city health department's oversight duties will be turned over to the state authorities.

In March, a surprise inspection found dangerous conditions in the nursing home including: 

Nursing Home Facility Problems

• Fire doors tied shut
• Mold on walls
• Cigarette butts in walkways
• Soiled mattresses
• Roach infestation
• Uncleaned vomit

 Nursing Home Staff Violations

• Allowing residents to smoke near oxygen tanks
• Storing medication improperly
• No psychological training for staff caring for residents with psychological problems
• No first aid training
• No fire drill training
• 20% medication error rate

The city counsel should be applauded for putting the important responsibility of nursing home inspections in the hands of more capable people.  Obviously, with the violations described above, many serious violations slipped through the cracks.  More information about this nursing home inspection can be found here.