2 Chelmsford Nursing Homes Fail First State Inspections

CHELMSFORD, MA — The Palm Center in Chelmsford scored 25 out of 28 in the first round of adherence checks by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, making it one of 119 nursing homes in the state to hit a 20-point threshold to pass, but failed in one or more of the six core standards, meaning they were also found to be in noncompliance.

Another 12 nursing homes failed to meet the 20-point threshold for compliance. The remaining 228 nursing homes scored 20 points or higher, including meeting the six core standards.

Read this, too: Chelmsford Coronavirus Cases Edge Close To 300

The inspections were the first in the COVID-19 Nursing Facility Accountability and Support Program announced by Gov. Charlie Baker on April 27. The audits, which are funded by $130 million the Baker administration allocated to slow the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, will be conducted every two weeks.

More than 30 residents at the Palm Center, which is licensed for 124 beds, have tested positive for the virus that causes the illness known as COVID-19.

Chelmsford is among the top 100 when it comes to the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus with at least 300 reported cases, part of the high case count may come from the Palm Center, where the National Guard deployed last month and where at least 29 residents have died related to the coronavirus.

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The only two nursing homes in Chelmsford included in the report:

• Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Chelmsford scored 25 out of 28 and was listed as not being in adherence by the state for failing in the area of core competencies. 93 beds, 10-30
• Palm Skilled Nursing Center And Center for Rehab Excellence scored 25 out of 28 and was listed as not being in adherence by the state for failing in the area of core competencies.

The state didn't release a breakdown of scores for individual nursing homes showing where they failed to comply with the standards laid out in the program's compliance checklist.

Long-term care facilities account for 61 percent coronavirus-related deaths in Massachusetts. Of the states 88,970 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday, 18,801 were either patients or workers in long-term care facilities.

Read the complete nursing home inspection report.

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Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).

- Patch Staff Dave Copeland Contributed to this report.