Smart Talk: More on PA’s nursing homes

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, August 4, 2016:

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale appeared on Smart Talk Tuesday to discuss a recently released audit on nursing homes at the request of the State Department of Health.  That audit found the Health Department was not reviewing nursing home staffing levels as much as required — meaning some facilities may have been understaffed.  The audit also found that the Department of Health stopped taking anonymous complaints in 2012, which may have jeopardized residents’ safety.

Meanwhile, PennLive is publishing a series called Failing the Frail this week that goes in-depth on nursing home care across the state.  The series comes after a six-month investigation by the news website.

For example, PennLive found that 46 care-related deaths were reported at Pennsylvania nursing homes between 2013 and 2015. Of those, only 17 triggered a penalty for the nursing home. And, even then, many of the penalties were small.

The website quotes experts from across the country that compares nursing homes in Pennsylvania to other states.

PennLive reporters Daniel-Simmons Ritchie and David Wenner join us on Thursday’s Smart Talk to provide more details oo what they found.