Nursing home organizations have compiled numerous examples of egregious citations and enforcement actions. For example, in Miami, surveyors conducted one survey last year while a facility was relocating residents during hurricane Georges. In a number of cases, facilities have been cited for following doctors' orders by surveyors who are not licensed to practice medicine. For example, an Iowa facility surveyed in January 1999 experienced three instances of the surveyor questioning a resident's physician on the dosage or appropriateness of ordered medication. In each of the three cases, the physician wrote a letter explaining the appropriateness of the order, citing medical journals and years of experience with the resident, and to express indignation for having to justify his expertise to surveyors.
Sanctions are pending.
In Indiana, a facility was cited because surveyors determined that a large number of greeting cards posted on a resident's wall constituted a potential safety hazard. In New York, a facility was cited because it did not serve pork. Surveyors insisted that pork be put on the menu. Specifically, a surveyor blew out a candle despite being told by the facility priest that the candle had significant religious meaning and had burned continuously for 22 years. The candle was housed in a Pyrex glass holder and sat on a non-combustible surface away from combustible material.