A new government report says nearly half of all nursing homes in California don't meet federal standards for preventing surgical infections or bedsores. 23 nursing homes in San Diego County fall short. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.
The federal government has set benchmarks for nursing homes in preventing bedsores, surgical infections, and using patient restraints. Medicare officials say homes that made the list aren't necessarily bad. Officials say the report is designed to focus oversight on facilities that need improvement.
Pat McGinnis directs the non-profit California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform . She says quality is hard to measure on paper.
McGinnis : If you're gonna be putting your father, your mother, or your spouse into a nursing home, you'd better get out there and take a look yourself, and get a feeling for the quality of care.
McGinnis says the overall level of care in California nursing homes is poor. She says part of the problem is the state's inspection system is one of the weakest in the nation.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
