Ch 932 Work Group Report

The General Assembly, in Chapter 932 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly, directed the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to convene a work group of key stakeholders in order to "review and make recommendations on increasing the availability of the clinical workforce for nursing homes in the Common Wealth"  (Appendix A)

In response to the legislative mandate, the Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC) in VDH convened a 32-member work group representing a broad range of perspective and expertise. The work group held eight meetings during 2020: on July 6, July 20, August 4, August 17, August 31, September 25, September 30, and November 9.

Several of "Dignity for the Aged" members participated in these meetings and contributed valuable information - which was totally dismissed or ignore.  Our goal was to provide documented information to support the facts that residents were being abused, neglected and dying due to lack of care due to understaffing.  We had proof that CNA's were leaving the workforce due to low salary, poor leadership, burn out and inability to provide proper card due to understaffing.  Our comments were ignored.  

There were 34 Recommendations made at the conclusion of this Work Group, which resulted in nothing being done.  Another Study is currently being conducted by the Joint Commission on Health Care.  This is not a new situation, the State of Virginia has been avoiding responsibility in caring for the elderly for 18 years.   Our elderly deserve better, this is criminal behavior and thousands of our  tax dollars are being wasted, this needs to stop now.  

The report is listed below, to download, just click the link below.  Dignity members made every effort to initiate change with their comments. (See Appendix E.  Stakeholder Explanations of Opposition to Specific Recommendations)