Lake View Care Center responds

After reading the article written by Tyler Christiansen posted on 8/21/06 in the Missoulian regarding area nursing homes, I felt the need to respond. My name is Brent Smith and I am the Administrator of Lake View Care Center in Bigfork, Montana.

The only industry more regulated than our nation's nursing homes is the Nuclear Power industry. We are carefully scrutinized by both Federal and State survey agencies and have to meet a cadre of other requirements such as HIPPA, OSHA, and Fire-Life-Safety codes. Non-compliance with these rules and regulations can result in severe money penalties up to and including loss of Medicare eligibility status, which would essentially shut our doors.

The Consumer Report study mentioned in the article was authored by Trudy Lieberman, director of the Center for Health Choices at Consumer's Union. According to the report in the Missoulian, the study's researchers gave poor ratings to those facilities that provided substandard care, put residents in immediate jeopardy, caused actual harm, or failed to make state inspection surveys readily accessible.

Contrary to what Ms. Lieberman reported, Lake View Care Center has had a fantastic record of State Survey compliance. In fact, since 2003, we have been in the top 70th percentile in terms of State Survey compliance. Looking on the Medicare Compare website, you will find that Lake View Care Center is listed as one of the top choices as well. Furthermore, we welcome anyone to come visit us and are more than happy to go over our survey results in detail. In addition, we have not had a substandard care or immediate jeopardy deficiency from our state inspections. And, yes, we are a for-profit nursing home.

The folks from Consumer Reports have never set foot in our nursing home. If they did they would find some of our residents relaxing in our beautiful facility with a million dollar view overlooking Flathead Lake. Others would be engaged in a game of cards or out shopping on one of our many outings. Several of our residents prefer to tend to the flowers and some help themselves to a handful of cherries, a succulent pear, or plum from one of our fruit trees. We provide more than a bed to sleep in and three square meals a day. We pride ourselves in providing our residents a quality of life with respect, dignity, and kindness.

In summary, our team of dedicated aides, nurses, and support staff are the best I have ever worked with. The real judge of the care we provide are the residents and families we serve. Perhaps Ms. Lieberman should have taken the time to visit with a few of them.

If I were to have to choose a nursing home for myself or a loved one, it would be Lake View Care Center. Ms. Lieberman listed the Montana Mental Health Nursing Home as her number one pick so I guess that would have to be her logical choice.

Brent Smith, Administrator

Lake View Care Center