By Doug Fletcher,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – A case of scabies is the latest trouble to hit problem-plagued Russell Park Manor.

Already this year the nursing home has faced a civil penalty and had its Medicare payments suspended after an employee verbally abused at least two residents.

State records show that the nursing home, owned by North Country Associates, tops area long-term care facilities in its number of deficiencies. Among the most serious: A finding that 24 percent of Russell Park’s high-risk residents have bed sores. That compares to 11 percent at the average Maine nursing home and 14 percent nationwide.

Now its staff is working to contain a case of scabies, the itchy skin infestation caused by microscopic mites.

“We do have a confirmed case,” said June Pickering, Russell Park’s administrator. “We’re monitoring the treatment.”

She said the facility’s medical director has given some guidance to the nursing staff in how to manage the situation.

Scabies is a common skin problem that’s found worldwide, according to the nation’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Scabies spreads rapidly under crowded conditions where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people, such as in hospitals, institutions, child-care facilities and nursing homes,” according to the CDC.

Symptoms include pimple-like irritations and a rash that can be found in the folds of skin, the CDC notes. The disease causes intense itching and can result in sores caused by scratching. The sores sometimes become infected.

Pickering said Russell Park employees, including those who work in its laundry, have been instructed to use precautions in dealing with residents. The precautions include wearing gloves. Employees who handle clothing and bedding have been advised to also wear gowns.

The CDC said that besides spreading by direct skin contact, scabies can spread by contact with contaminated clothing, sheets and towels.

Deficiencies

Russell Park is licensed to handle 62 residents, according to Medicare. The facility has been cited for 21 deficiencies, according to the most recent Medicare nursing home comparison posting. That posting was last updated on Sept. 1.

The 21 deficiencies lead all nursing homes in the Lewiston-Auburn area. It compares to 18 at Clover Manor in Auburn, 15 at St. Marguerite D’Youville, eight at Montello Manor and seven at Marshwood Center, all in Lewiston. The Odd Fellows Home of Maine in Auburn had one listing.

The average number of deficiencies for nursing homes in Maine is nine; nationally, it’s eight, according to Medicare.

Russell Park was last inspected on Feb. 9, according to Medicare records.

Pickering noted that many, if not all, of the deficiencies had been corrected.

Michael Norton, the public information director for the state Department of Health and Human Services, said Russell Park faced a series of problems this year.

At one point in August, Medicare suspended payments for new residents for the facility, he noted. That’s an action taken only after Medicare has determined that “substantial complaints” exist.

The suspension – resulting from the verbal abuse of patients – ran from Aug. 24 through Sept. 5. Norton said Medicare could also impose $650-per-day civil penalties for that time frame if it chooses to.

To rectify the situation, North Country brought in new leadership and staff positions, he said.

Norton said Pickering was hired as the facility’s administrator in July, in part to help address problems such as the verbal-abuse cases. Other staff members were added under her direction, Norton added.

Substantial compliance’

The hiring took place too late for the facility to avoid the suspension of Medicare payments, but helped to bring the suspension to a quick end by bringing Russell Park into “substantial compliance,” Norton said.

Brenda Gallant, Maine’s ombudsman for long-term care issues, said she also had had complaints about Russell Park. She said she typically works with DHHS when such complaints come in, and sometimes also deals directly with the nursing home.

In the case of Russell Park, she said, “I think that they are working toward resolving the problems.”

She encouraged residents of long-term care facilities and their families to call her office or DHHS with any concerns about care.

“There are strict standards for everything from food service to physical activity to medical treatments,” Gallant said.

North Country Associates is a for-profit corporation that operates 17 Medicare-approved nursing, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities in Maine and Massachusetts. Area facilities include Strong Nursing Home, Orchard Park and Edgewood centers in Farmington, and Heritage Rehab and Living Center in Winthrop.