Lynda Baldwin, Administrator & President, Burien Nursing & Rehabilitation, and Des Moines resident, is proud of her facility and staff for earning a five star rating, the highest, from the Dept. of Social and Health Services, state run and federally funded. They arrived May 16 at 4:45 a.m. unannounced, and remained for eight days.
Burien Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, at 1031 SW 130th St., just east of Ambaum Blvd., was just awarded the highest overall rating, five stars, following a recent, thorough eight-day inspection. This is the facility's third consecutive five-star year. They received just two minor citations out of a possible 170 by the Department of Social and Health Services, which is state run and federally funded. Only about 10-percent of King County facilities earn this rating.
"They arrived on May 16 at 4:45 a.m., totally unannounced," said Lynda Baldwin, facility president and administrator, who lives in Des Moines. "They keep you guessing. In 2010 we had one citation, in 2011 we had two, and this year two. That's what is really important to me, that we developed this history of compliance. We're quick to jump on concerns. One citation was tiny, a documentation issue. The other involved a few expired meds on a cart that were never given to residents. Our nurses will inspect the meds weekly and our pharmacy will audit monthly. Washington's codes are more stringent than Federal guidelines."
Guidelines include three categories, Health Inspections, Nursing Home Staffing, and Quality Measures. A checklist of conditions includes "The temperature of the nursing home is comfortable for residents", "The nursing home offers a training and continuing education for all staff", "residents have a choice of roommates", and "Water pitchers can be reached by residents".
"We're very proud of our accomplishment here," said resident care manager, Victor La Bluvé. "We've made a valiant effort to continue our five star rating. We have a mindset of a team. We want to make sure to keep that mindset. It is helpful in all our surveys."
"We feel great," said RN Devinder Kaur, assistant director of nursing and resident care manager. "You can see the pride in my face. We did really hard work."
Marilyn Rodrigues has been a resident for seven years and is President of the Council for residents.
"They are very nice to me," she said of the staff. "I do a lot of artwork. I crochet hats and sell them. I am from Hawaii. I keep a lei in my room."
Ken Brunette, from Burien, is a six-year resident, and Vice President of the Council.
"I was trying to have silver hair like Biden," he quipped, referring to the "other" vice president. "I like making birdhouses and painting watercolors. This is really an exceptional house. A lot of people have asked me if I wanted to move but I kept turning them down."
