Investigates

Another local nursing home facing resident claims of COVID-19 false reporting, care issues

MT. LEBANON, Pa. — The problems at Brighton Rehab with the coronavirus have been well-documented, but there’s another local facility that is having issues itself.

Mt. Lebanon Rehab is owned by the same company, Comprehensive Healthcare Management, and Channel 11′s investigation into another one of its facilities caught the attention of a Mt. Lebanon Rehab resident.

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The day after our report on Murrysville Rehab, a 61-year-old man -- Peter -- told Channel 11 he sees the same care issues at Mt. Lebanon Rehab.

Peter said he went four weeks without a shower, and some residents sat in soiled briefs for hours.

“I had an incident with diarrhea where I sat in it for six hours before I was changed,” said Peter.

Mt. Lebanon was investigated five times for complaints this year and finally cited in July for an infection prevention and control violation. Just a few weeks later, Peter said he filed a complaint over cleanliness issues and was disappointed when a state inspector talked to him.

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“The woman’s attitude seemed to be unless something happens right in front of our eyes over here, what can we do about it?” Peter said.

Another issue 11 Investigates uncovered is that Mt. Lebanon is apparently failing to report its COVID-19 cases to the state health department as required. Mt. Lebanon reported zero cases last week, but that doesn’t make sense because Peter said he tested positive for coronavirus weeks ago and was moved to an isolation unit with others at the facility.

This isn’t the first time a CHM nursing home failed to report its coronavirus numbers. Brighton Rehab had the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the state — with more than 400 cases and 73 deaths, and it was also criticized for a lack of transparency. Monroeville Rehab went from reporting zero cases to 47 cases and seven deaths in just a week earlier in August. As of Aug. 12, Monroeville Rehab reported 55 cases — 10 still “active” and 45 “resolved,” including eight resident deaths.

When asked for comment, Mt. Lebanon Rehab did not respond.

CHM is dealing with many issues: from patient care to possible fraud. While the FBI won’t say specifically what they were looking for on Thursday, Channel 11 learned the company was hit with a case by the National Labor Relations Board two years ago and a class action lawsuit on labor and wage issues -- such as not paying over time.

That potential fraud could be part of it, in addition to the state attorney general’s investigation of possible criminal negligence over care issues.