Trends in Long-Term Care - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

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We never gave a license without a re<strong>in</strong>spection. They were not given
out automatically.
Senator Moss. Were some of the licenses withdrawn then, not
reissued?
Ms. HOPPER. We did have occasion to refuse to reissue a license,
which was a decision made by the commissioner, and given a formal
hear<strong>in</strong>g, and after 10 days' notice, but it was not done rout<strong>in</strong>ely.
We did do it occasionally. Sometimes they refused to close them,
and then they would br<strong>in</strong>g it to court. Usually that was the end of it,
because once they got to court, they would close the whole th<strong>in</strong>g and
not go through the case.
Senator Moss. What was the f<strong>in</strong>al outcome of the place where the
heat was off ?
Ms. HOPPER. In fact, they were work<strong>in</strong>g on it, the plumber promised
me that they would have heat with<strong>in</strong> the hour, they called me at home,
and <strong>in</strong> this place, I suggested the patients be removed, but my superior
said I will not remove them.
I don't know why, because it was the best th<strong>in</strong>g to do.
They were giv<strong>in</strong>g the patients bottled water, four times a day,
supposedly <strong>in</strong> a plastic cup, but they never got enough anyhow.
Assemblvman STEIN. Mr. Chairman, could I ask a few questions?
Senator Moss. All right.
Assemblyman STEIN. Ms. Hopper, did you propose stricter regulations,
or remedial actions to your superiors?
Ms. HOPPER. Many times.
Assemblyman STEIN. And what happened?
Ms. HOPPER. In a nutshell, noth<strong>in</strong>g.
Assemblyman STEIN. Why were you removed from be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> charge
of the particular unit that you were <strong>in</strong> charge of ?
Ms. HOPPER. That is what I said, when I came over from the State,
from the department of health, and I assumed, my immediate superior
gave me a good recommendation, he was the commissioner at the time
of the transfer, but they wanted to put their own <strong>in</strong>.
Of course, they had a policy that we could work better by education,
that we should write guidel<strong>in</strong>es, give them the guidel<strong>in</strong>es to follow, and
they would follow it.
I had not found that these people did not know how to do it. It
was a lack of will<strong>in</strong>gness, and if you worked with them for 17 years,
you cannot keep on educat<strong>in</strong>g them, they have to know at some time
what to do.
Assemblyman STEIN. Thank you.
Senator Moss. Let us go to Dr. Dobk<strong>in</strong>.
Dr. Dobk<strong>in</strong>, we will hear from you, sir.
Dr. DOBRKIN. I have a statement. Do you want me to proceed with it?
Senator Moss. Yes.
STATEMENT OF DR. JAY DOBKIN, CHIEF RESIDENT, INTERNAL
MEDICINE, MORRISANIA CITY HOSPITAL
Dr. DOBRKIN. I am Dr. Jay Dobk<strong>in</strong>, chief resident, <strong>in</strong>ternal medic<strong>in</strong>e,
Morrisania City Hospital, which is located <strong>in</strong> the Bronx.
I am here to describe my experience with patients at the hospital for
nurs<strong>in</strong>g homes.