Summary of Comprehensive at Williamsville and its indicators of Quality

Under the prevailing for-profit model, it appears that operators seek to cut costs to maximize profit. It is the belief of CELJ and other resident advocates that this is done at the expense of resident safety. Vigilance in compliance and enforcement of nursing home laws and regulations is necessary in order to ensure every individual in WNY (and across the state) receives quality of care. It is a human rights issue when the quality of care and life of human beings suffer for the benefit of for-profit operators.

Summary of Comprehensive at Williamsville and its Indicators of Quality12

Ownership:

Comprehensive at Williamsville is a 142-bed facility located at 147 Reist Street in Williamsville, New York. The facility is a Medicare and Medicaid participant. Comprehensive at Williamsville, LLC, purchased and officially took over operations for the facility in May 2015.13 According to CMS records current ownership is comprised as follows:14 • Ephram Lahasky 19% • Joshua Farkovits 19% • David Gast 25% • Samuel Halper 14% • Debbie Korngut 12% • Teresa Lichtschein 8% • Jeffrey Arem 5% Prior to 2015, Comprehensive at Williamsville was called St. Francis Nursing Home and was operated by Catholic Health System.

Survey Results:

In the most recent annual survey of Comprehensive at Williamsville, completed on August 27, 2021, the DOH identified 13 health deficiencies, with the maximum severity being E, that equates to no actual harm with potential for more than minimal harm that is not immediate jeopardy and is a pattern. Comprehensive at Williamsville has 2.7 times the amount of health deficiencies compared to the statewide average over the prior 3-year period and has a pattern of repeat violations.15 Comprehensive at Williamsville additionally had 5.4 times the amount of life safety code citations compared to the statewide average during this time.16

12 Each area will be discussed in greater detail in this Profile. 13 NYS Certificate of Need (CON) Document Project #141213-E 14 CMS Provider October 1, 2022; see also CON # 161122-E. CMS rounds up: David Gast (24.5%); Samuel Halper (13.5%); Debbie Korngut (11.5%); Teresa Lichtschein (7.5%). 15 From the period November 1, 2018 through October 31, 2022, Comprehensive at Williamsville received 38 standard health citations (state average 14). https://profiles.health.ny.gov/nursing_home/view/150369#inspections , last accessed November 30, 2022. 16 Id.