Petitioner: AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
Respondent: ALTERRA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION, D/B/A ALTERRA STERLING HOUSE OF STUART
Judges: ROBERT E. MEALE
Agency: Agency for Health Care Administration
Locations: Stuart, Florida
Filed: Oct. 04, 2004
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, November 30, 2004.
Latest Update: Feb. 02, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION 0
AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE
ADMINISTRATION,
Petitioner, AHCA No.: 2004007475
Return Receipt Requested:
Vv. 7003 1680 0006 9825 9509
7003 1680 0006 9825 9516
ALTERRA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION d/b/a 7003 1680 0006 9825 9523
ALTERRA STERLING HOUSE OF STUART,
Respondent. a C . cone q q
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
COMES NOW the Agency for Health Care Administration
(“AHCA”), by and through the undersigned counsel, and files this
administrative complaint against Alterra Healthcare Corporation
d/b/a Alterra Sterling House of Stuart (hereinafter “Alterra
Sterling House of Stuart”), pursuant to Chapter 400, Part III,
and Section 120.60, Florida Statutes (2003), and herein alleges:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1. This is an action to impose an administrative fine of
$3,000.00 pursuant to Sections 400.414 and 400.419, Florida
Statutes for the protection of public health, safety and
welfare.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
2. This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to Sections
120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes and Chapter 28-106, Florida
Administrative Code.
3. Venue lies in Martin County pursuant to Section 120.57
Florida Statutes and Rule 28-106.207, Florida Administrative
Code.
PARTIES
4. AHCA is the regulatory authority responsible for
licensure and enforcement of all applicable statutes and rules
governing assisted living facilities pursuant to Chapter 400,
Part III, Florida Statutes (2003), and Chapter 58A-5, Florida
Administrative Code.
5. Alterra Sterling House of Stuart operates a 55-bed
assisted living facility located at 3401 Aster Lane, Stuart,
Florida 34997. Alterra Sterling House of Stuart is licensed as
an assisted living facility under license number 8773. Alterra
Sterling House of Stuart was at all times material hereto a
licensed facility under the licensing authority of AHCA and was
required to comply with all applicable rules and statutes.
COUNT _I
ALTERRA STERLING HOUSE OF STUART FAILED TO ENSURE THAT THE
FACILITY WAS MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PHYSICAL PLANT SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS.
SECTION 400.419(4), FLORIDA STATUTES
RULE 58A-5.023(1) (b), FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
(PHYSICAL PLANT STANDARDS)
CLASS III VIOLATION
6. AHCA re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs (1)
through (5) as if fully set forth herein.
7. Alterra Sterling House of Stuart was cited with one
(1) Class III deficiency due to financial monitoring surveys
conducted on May 27, 2004 and June 29, 2004.
8. A revisit financial monitoring survey was conducted on
May 27, 2004. Observations made during the tour of the facility
revealed that the facility did not ensure that it was maintained
in accordance with physical plant requirements. The findings
include the following:
9. The walls of room # 128 were noted to have food
splashed on them in the kitchenette area. In addition, the wall
along the resident’s bed and the bed control were soiled with
dried on substances. The carpet in the kitchenette area was
stained and also had food items present on it.
10. The carpet area in the main dining room was noted to
have at least 10 different stained areas.
11. Room #140 was noted to have a strong feces type odor
present upon entering it. Upon investigation by the
Administrator, it was revealed that this resident who requires
total assistance in toileting and dressing had been dressed and
changed early that morning and the soiled diaper had just been
tossed in a waste basket. The staff member had neglected to
properly dispose of this item.
12. The Administrator was present during the tour of the
facility and confirmed these observations and findings. This is
an uncorrected deficiency from the survey of 3/17/04.
13. The mandated correction date was designated June 26,
2004.
14. A second revisit survey was conducted on June 29,
2004. Observations made during the tour of the facility revealed
that the facility still failed to ensure that it was maintained
in accordance with physical plant requirements. The findings
include the following:
15. The carpet in room 128 had stains in numerous
locations and food items were also noted to be stuck to the
carpet. The stains and floor condition were substantially
unchanged from when it was cited on the previous revisit.
16. A strong urine smell was present in rooms # 124 and
#137 as well as a moderate urine smell room # 112.
17. These observations were also witnessed by the staff
member who accompanied the surveyor. This is an uncorrected
deficiency from the first revisit survey of 5/27/04
4
18. Based on the foregoing facts, Alterra Sterling House
of Stuart violated Rule 58A-5.023(1)(b), Florida Administrative
Code, herein classified as a Class III violation, which warrants
the maximum fine of $1,000.00 per day totaling $3,000.00
pursuant to Section 400.419(4), Florida Statutes due to repeated
failure to correct this deficiency.
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, the Petitioner, State of Florida, Agency for
Health Care Administration requests the Court to order the
following relief:
1. Enter a judgment in favor of the Agency for Health
Care Administration against Alterra Sterling House of Stuart on
Count I.
2. Assess an administrative fine of $3,000.00 against
Alterra Sterling House of Stuart on Count I for the violation
cited above.
3. Assess costs related to the investigation and
prosecution of this matter, if applicable.
4. Grant such other relief as this Court deems is just
and proper.
Respondent is notified that it has a right to request an
administrative hearing pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57,
Florida Statutes (2003). Specific options for administrative
action are set out in the attached Election of Rights and
explained in the attached Explanation of Rights. All requests
for hearing shall be made to the Agency for Health Care
Administration, and delivered to the Agency Clerk, Agency for
Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, MS #3,
Tallahassee, Florida 32308.
RESPONDENT IS FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT THE FAILURE TO RECEIVE A
REQUEST FOR A HEARING WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF RECEIPT OF
THIS COMPLAINT WILL RESULT IN AN ADMISSION OF THE FACTS ALLEGED
IN THE COMPLAINT AND THE ENTRY OF A FINAL ORDER BY THE AGENCY.
Assistant General Counsel
Agency for Health Care
Administration
8350 N.W. 52 Terrace - #103
Miami, Florida 33166
305-470-6800
Copies furnished to:
Diane Reiland
Field Office Manager
Agency for Health Care Administration
1710 &. Tiffany Drive - Suite 100
West Palm Beach, Florida 33407
(U.S. Mail)
Jean Lombardi
Finance and Accounting
Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
(Interoffice Mail)
Assisted Living Facility Unit Program
Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
(Interoffice Mail)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
se
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the
foregoing has been furnished by U.S. Certified Mail, Return
Receipt Requested to Judy Bowes, Administrator, Alterra Sterling
House of Stuart, 3401 Aster Lane, Stuart, Florida 34997; Alterra
Healthcare Corporation, 10000 Innovation Drive, Tax Dept.,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226; CT Corporation System, 1200 South
Pine Island Road, Plantation, Florida 33324 on this SH day of
Se port , 2004.
tied
Docket for Case No: 04-003599
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 07, 2005 |
Final Order filed.
|
Nov. 30, 2004 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Oct. 28, 2004 |
Order of Consolidation and Rescheduling Hearing. (consolidated cases are: 04-002870, 04-003599; hearing set for November 4, 2004, is cancelled and rescheduled for December 13, 2004)) |
Oct. 27, 2004 |
Motion to Consolidate (cases: 04-2870 and 04-3599) filed by Petitioner via facsimile.
|
Oct. 18, 2004 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for December 13, 2004; 9:00 a.m.; Stuart, FL).
|
Oct. 12, 2004 |
Response to Initial Order (filed by Petitoner via facsimile).
|
Oct. 05, 2004 |
Initial Order.
|
Oct. 04, 2004 |
Request for Formal Administrative Proceedings filed.
|
Oct. 04, 2004 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Oct. 04, 2004 |
Notice (of Agency referral) filed.
|