dolan statement 8.10.15

2
The incident that recently aired on KSDK occurred in June of 2014. From our surveillance video, we were able to catch Ernestine Cobbins and report her to the proper authorities. Thankfully, the resident was not hurt and the associate (Ernestine Cobbins) was immediately terminated. Earlier this year, we attended Cobbins’s trial to testify on behalf of the prosecution in the hope of preventing her from working with the elderly ever again. We felt very strong about our obligation in prohibiting Cobbins’s right to work within the healthcare industry. The video we provided to the authorities and that was aired on KSDK was instrumental in her conviction. Without it, she would have never been caught. In the end, she was able to plea bargain the charge down to only 100 hours of community service. Needless to say, we were outraged when we heard the judge’s decision. If she completes her service hours, the charges will be expunged from her record. Like other facilities in Missouri, we do criminal background checks along with checking the state registry to insure that we do not hire someone that has a criminal record or has been identified by the state as a possible abuser. In addition, we have our applicants fill out an extensive psychological test. We also conduct several interviews to assure we are hiring the right kind of person. All of our staff is required to go through an extensive training program. We require ongoing training for employees in various disciplines from handling behaviors, to validation therapy. As an added measure we made a decision several years ago to implement video surveillance technology within our buildings. This decision runs counter to most if not all long term care facilities in the area for fear of the liability it might bring. However, we believed that our resident’s safety comes first; outweighing any negative effect it might have on our organization.

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Statement from Dolan

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The incident that recently aired on KSDK occurred in June of 2014. From our surveillance video, we were ale to catch !rnestine "oins and re#ort her to the #ro#er authorities. Than$fully, the resident was not hurt and the associate %!rnestine "oins& was immediately terminated. !arlier this year, we attended "oins's trial to testify on ehalf of the #rosecution in the ho#e of #reventin( her from wor$in( with the elderly ever a(ain. )e felt very stron( aout our oli(ation in #rohiitin( "oins's ri(ht to wor$ within the healthcare industry. The video we #rovided to the authorities and that was aired on KSDK was instrumental in her conviction. )ithout it, she would have never een cau(ht. *n the end, she was ale to #lea ar(ain the char(e down to only 100 hours of community service.+eedless to say, we were outra(ed when we heard the ,ud(e's decision. *f she com#letes her service hours, the char(es will e e-#un(ed from her record. .i$e other facilities in /issouri, we do criminal ac$(round chec$s alon( with chec$in( the state re(istry to insure that we do not hire someone that has a criminal record or has een identi0ed y the state as a #ossile auser. *n addition, we have our a##licants 0ll out an e-tensive #sycholo(ical test. )e also conduct several interviews to assure we are hirin( the ri(ht $ind of #erson. 1ll of our sta2 is re3uired to (o throu(h an e-tensive trainin( #ro(ram. )e re3uire on(oin( trainin( for em#loyees in various disci#lines from handlin( ehaviors, to validation thera#y. 1s an added measure we made a decision several years a(o to im#lement video surveillance technolo(y within our uildin(s. This decision runs counter to most if not all lon( term care facilities in the area for fear of the liaility it mi(ht rin(.4owever, we elieved that our resident's safety comes 0rst5 outwei(hin( any ne(ative e2ect it mi(ht have on our or(ani6ation. 7nfortunately, there are ad #eo#le amon(st us. )e in the lon( term care industry have an oli(ation to ta$e s#ecial care of our elderly residents. There are a##ro-imately two million elderly aused every year and for every re#orted case of elder ause there are 0ve that (o unre#orted which is the real tra(edy of the story..astly, this incident does not in any way re8ect on the care, $indness and com#assion that our sta2 has and shows to our residents on a daily asis and for that we are truly all (rateful.