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Local adult-care facility gets top marks; Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott achieves 'zero deficiencies' from the Kansas Department on Aging
For the fourth consecutive year, a local adult-care facility has received stellar scores on its annual state inspection.
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village has achieved zero deficiencies following a recent regulatory survey conducted June 21-22 by the Kansas Department on Aging. The state conducts regulatory surveys each year to ensure cleanliness, safety and quality control for the services provided at retirement communities in Kansas.
"It is rare for a provider to have zero-deficiency surveys for so many years in a row," Fort Scott Presbyterian Village Executive Director Ginger Dierksen said. "This is tangible proof that our employees are dedicated to our nonprofit Christian mission and committed to quality standards in the services we provide to our seniors."
Dierksen said she attributes the rare achievement to the efforts of her staff.
"We're blessed that we have the great workforce that we have," she said. "We have a Christian mission. That's a real big part of it. We walk in these doors every day with a service mind ... There's a connection with the people we are serving. It's more than just a job for us. It's a service we're all called to do."
During the survey, inspectors look at all aspects of the facility's operations and services it provides, Dierksen said.
"They look at everything," she said. "There is a set of regulations we have to comply with. Most of it is safety and infection control based and outcome based."
Services are reviewed, including whether or not the needs of the tenants are being met and any gaps that would indicate deficiencies, Dierksen said.
"We want to be sure seniors are getting everything they should be getting to live well," she said. "We're very strongly regulated."
In a letter to Dierksen, Kansas Department on Aging Secretary Shawn Sullivan congratulated Presbyterian Village on its accomplishment.
"You and your staff are recognized for the hard work and effort it takes to achieve such a level of compliance," he wrote. "This achievement recognized your facility as a top performer in the state of Kansas. Fort Scott Presbyterian Village should be proud of this accomplishment ... Thank you for the organization's dedication to serving our state's elders."
Qualities that stood out to inspectors included the staff, the high level of care provided, and the general appearance and maintenance of the building, Dierksen said.
Dierksen said the facility is licensed for 62 tenants and both independent and assisted living apartments are available. The center has 44 one- and -two bedroom assisted living apartments.
The tenants are in control of activities and functions at the center and the staff's job is to make sure regulations are followed.
KDOA inspects all long-term care providers in Kansas on a regular basis to make sure they are following regulatory standards.
A nonprofit retirement community, Fort Scott Presbyterian Village is celebrating its 17th year of service to Bourbon County and surrounding areas. It is part of the Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America system of 17 communities in Kansas and Missouri.