Associated Press: New Florida Nursing Home Watchdog Jim Crochet Rejects Criticism He is Too Friendly With Industry

The Associated Press published the following article on June 1, 2011:

New Fla. nursing home watchdog rejects criticisms
By MATT SEDENSKY
Associated Press


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The new top advocate for Florida's nursing home residents insisted Thursday he is committed to patients' wellbeing and rejected suggestions he is too friendly with the industry to effectively serve as watchdog.

Jim Crochet was named state long-term care ombudsman in April after his predecessor Brian Lee was ousted. Lee had a contentious relationship with the nursing home industry, but Crochet disputes characterizations that he is more of a friend.

"To say that I'm partial to the industry is not a correct statement," he said. "My job is to look out for the health, welfare, safety and rights of the residents."

Lee's dismissal in February led to a wave of complaints from volunteers in the program, a still-ongoing federal investigation, the firing of a volunteer who was an outspoken critic and two whistleblower complaints.

Crochet said the program is prevailing in its fight for residents' rights despite the turmoil.

"It's not about Brian, it's not about me, it's not about any one person in this program," he said. "This ship will move forward."

Chief among his goals for the program are to attract, retain and recognize volunteers. He said he'd like to see the ratio - currently about one volunteer for every 605 nursing home residents - cut in half.

Crochet said he expected to push for legislation on behalf of nursing home residents, but said he has not yet familiarized himself with measures that moved through the Legislature in the recently closed session.

State lawmakers proposed bills that, among other things, would have removed the requirement for ombudsmen to conduct on-site assessments of nursing homes; repealed a law requiring the collection and analysis of data related to complaints in long-term care facilities; removed a requirement to disseminate a list of facilities that have been fined; and made it more difficult to sue nursing homes and place a lower cap on damages that could be awarded.

All of those measures ultimately failed, though another legislative change, to lower the staff-to-resident ratio requirements for nursing homes, did pass, seen as a cost-cutting measure in the face of reductions to Medicaid reimbursements. It reduces the average amount of direct care provided residents by 18 minutes each day.

Lee, who is not seeking reinstatement, said he does not expect his successor to be a strong voice against efforts to weaken nursing home residents' rights. He said Crochet, who previously wrote rules governing nursing homes, consistently has sided with the industry.

"He was put there by the industry and I'm sure he owes them a debt of gratitude for his employment and I'm sure he'll placate who he has to," Lee said.





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