Deerfield-News.com-Deerfield Beach,Fl-Yesterday Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a mandate.Ordering all nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the State of Florida to do the following.Of course with storms brewing in the Atlantic and 60 days to comply let us hope it is not too little too late .
Following the deaths of eight elderly patients who spent three days in a smoldering hot nursing home, Gov. Rick Scott ordered nursing homes and assisted living facilities Saturday to obtain generators and the fuel necessary to run them within 60 days.
Scott issued the emergency rule to state agencies requiring facilities that care for the elderly to take the steps to “sustain operations and maintain comfortable temperatures for at least 96 hours following a power outage.”
Scott’s rule will expire in 90 days, and he vowed to take action against facilities that don’t comply within the 60-day deadline. He said he will push legislation in the next session to make the rule state law.
The deathes atthe Rehabilitation Center of Hollywood Hills. On Friday, the nursing home’s executives said Florida Power & Light and Scott delayed responding to their pleas for help after the facility lost power last Sunday during Hurricane Irma.
Scott, whose staff said all calls from the nursing home were routed to state agencies, said Saturday in his statement he was “outraged by the deaths.
“I am demanding answers as we furiously investigate this terrible loss of life. We must understand why this facility delayed calling 911 and evacuating patients and their decision to keep their patients in danger,” he said.
“The inability for this nursing home in Broward County to protect life has shined the light on the need for emergency action,” Scott said. “Failure to comply will result in penalties, including fines up to $1,000 per day and the possible revocation of a facility’s license.”
The governor’s emergency action requires:
- The state fire marshal to conduct inspection of the generators within 15 days of installation.
- Local emergency management officials to approve or deny healthcare facilities’ comprehensive emergency management plan and post approved plans to a website.
- Facilities to submit proof of compliance with emergency rules to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and Elder Affairs within 48 hours of approval.
