The two state veterans’ homes, where more than two hundred citizens have died from COVID-19, continue to provide such poor care that their citizens are at the highest risk of serious infections and illnesses, according to a scathing 43-page report released Thursday through the U. S. Department of Justice.
The report is the first government investigation to blame Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration for his handling of the pandemic at homes in Paramus and Menlo Park, which have recorded one of the nationwide COVID death rates for nursing homes.
“A systemic failure to enforce a clinical care policy, poor communication between control and Array, and failure to secure certain core competencies have allowed the virus to spread virtually out of control throughout facilities,” the report says.
Although Murphy fired four key officials from the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs, adding the CEOs of both chambers, his administration “did not direct its new leaders to take a look at what happened in 2020 or how veterans’ homes deserve to be informed. “of failures. . . prevent long-term crises,” the report says.
It states that shelters continue to provide “inadequate fundamental medical care”, adding that the following are not met:
These mistakes have had real consequences, the report says. When the omicron variant of COVID spread in late 2021 and early 2022, veterans’ homes had the third and fourth mortality rates among 44 similarly sized services in the region, according to the report.
Kimberly Peck, whose father Vernon fought in Vietnam and died in the Menlo Park home at the height of the pandemic, felt justified in the report mentioning the “horrible treatment” inflicted on veterans, but irritated by the patience of major issues.
“Governor Murphy has said many times how seriously he takes the loss of life in those homes, but we have noticed time and time again that nothing has changed,” he said. “What else do you want to happen to those other people for someone?”To care and make an effective change?”
Management has hired an exterior contractor to manage the Menlo Park home and plans to do so with Paramus’ home.
In a statement, Murphy said the federal report “is a deeply troubling reminder that the remedy obtained thanks to our heroic veterans is unacceptable and, frankly, appalling. “
“In an effort to give our veterans the attention they deserve, over the past three years, our leadership has implemented many processes and procedures depending on the conditions, and recently added personal control and assistance for those two homes,” Murphy said. “However, it is clear that we have much more work to do and we are willing to explore all possibilities to provide our veterans with the best care they deserve and are entitled to under the law. “
Murphy said he would work with the legislature to “provide world-class care to our heroes,” but did not specify what that would entail.
Efforts to expose those errors have been fought through the Murphy administration, adding to a court war with NorthJersey. com over public records.
This is said to have continued with the federal government. In its report released Thursday, the Justice Department said the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs obstructed its investigative home visits.
Attorneys for staff and facility control followed branch staff into the facility “far beyond what is mandatory to give instructions, standing nearby while Justice Department personnel spoke with witnesses and knocked on doors to offices and rooms where witnesses were interviewed. ” according to the report. Witnesses reported that supervisors and managers asked what questions DOJ staff had asked and, in particular, dissuaded staff members from speaking with DOJ. “
The investigation through the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division found that Murphy’s management violated residents’ right to care and safety situations, guaranteed through the 14th Amendment, when they are committed to a public facility.
The federal investigation began in October 2020, months after the NorthJersey. com policy showed how mismanagement, lax infection and a policy against wearing masks would likely have led to a high number of deaths.
Full coverage: When New Jersey veterans’ homes exploded amid COVID, NorthJersey. com made glaring mistakes
A spokesman for Murphy launched the investigation into then-President Donald Trump’s politically motivated management. But the investigation continued with Trump’s ouster and the replacement of the administration by President Joe Biden, a Democrat and Murphy ally.
On Thursday, another Murphy ally, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. , D-Paterson, said the report “infuriates everyone in New Jersey. “
“The fact that such critical issues as infection control, quality of care criteria and proper supervision have not been resolved and continue through 2023 is beyond concerning,” said Pascrell, whose brother-in-law resided at Paramus House at the Height. of the pandemic.
The persistent disorders show that the houses want to be overseen through a branch of government, said Dave Ofshinsky, Paramus’ former advertising director and whistleblower who alerted NorthJersey. com to the house disorders.
“The consulting contracts they awarded after the Menlo fiasco would possibly not help,” he said. “What you want to do is remove DMAVA from the medical landscape, similar to what Bergen County did with the former Bergen Pines Hospital. “
New Jersey’s foreign war veterans renewed their call Thursday for individual rooms and ventilation systems in homes.
“This report validates what VFW has been saying for years: lack of leadership, lack of transparency and a culture of intimidation,” said Jay Boxwell, VFW’s legislative director. “We are welcoming this report. This is an unhappy day for the most dispossessed. veterans and their families who call our veterans’ homes home. “
As in many nursing homes in New Jersey, COVID spread in any of the veterans’ homes at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
An inspection by federal Medicare officials, first reported through NorthJersey. com, found that homes were slow to close unusual areas. They allowed inflamed or symptomatic citizens to mix with those who were not in poor health or who were waiting for the effects of control. More than a month after the start of the pandemic.
Staff did not have good enough personal protective equipment and were in and out of rooms between COVID patients and those who were asymptomatic or uninfected.
At the beginning of the pandemic, they were asked not to wear protective masks because this would scare residents. With the help of Murphy’s office, managers even devised a number of consequences for nurses wearing masks provided in homes. Subsequent emails requested through NorthJersey. com related to the mask policy were redacted almost entirely.
Two other investigations were carried out in the houses: one through the State Attorney General and the other through the State Commission of Inquiry. Their prestige is unknown.
In 2022, Murphy’s leadership agreed to pay $53 million to the families of 119 veterans who died in those homes. Dozens of workers sued management, saying they were at risk.