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Audit says problems at Grand Rapids veterans home are fixed

Lindsey Smith
/
Michigan Radio
Grand Rapids Home for Veterans (file photo)

A report by the Michigan Auditor General says patient care at the problem-plagued Grand Rapids Home for Veterans has improved.

A 2016 audit of the nursing home revealed falsified records, employees skipping room checks, and other issues.

The Auditor General’s Office released a follow-up report Thursday. It says care at the home has improved. For example, it found caregivers keep better track of where patients are, and the home is looking into patient complaints more thoroughly.

Daniel Waun of Michigan’s Military and Veterans Affairs says the department is happy with the progress.

“Today’s report by the Auditor General reflects the incredible efforts of all the dedicated staff at the home in Grand Rapids... to provide the best possible care to Michigan’s veterans.”

The Auditor General report did say the home does not have the number of nursing supervisors required in an agreement with a private contractor.

Waun says that's a technicality, and that the home has enough supervisors. The contract will be re-written to reflect that. He adds that the state and the people running the home will continue to look for ways to improve patient services.

“I think they work every day to maintain the highest level of care for Michigan’s treasured veterans," he said.

Last month, the Attorney General announced criminal charges against 11 workersfor falsifying records to cover up problems at the home.

Before becoming the newest Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network, Cheyna Roth was an attorney. She spent her days fighting it out in court as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Ionia County. Eventually, Cheyna took her investigative and interview skills and moved on to journalism. She got her masters at Michigan State University and was a documentary filmmaker, podcaster, and freelance writer before finding her home with NPR. Very soon after joining MPRN, Cheyna started covering the 2016 presidential election, chasing after Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and all their surrogates as they duked it out for Michigan. Cheyna also focuses on the Legislature and criminal justice issues for MPRN. Cheyna is obsessively curious, a passionate storyteller, and an occasional backpacker. Follow her on Twitter at @Cheyna_R
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