Nursing home with most virus deaths fined $10K a day

LA PLATA, Md. (AP) — Regulators in Maryland will fine a nursing home that has had the most virus-related deaths in the state $10,000 a day.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that the nursing home is Sagepoint Senior Living in La Plata, which is south of Washington in Charles County.

State regulators say that the nursing home failed to use appropriate protective equipment and failed to separate residents who have coronavirus or who were suspected of having it. The state also said that the facility failed to obtain lab results in a timely manner.

The Office Of Health Care Quality will issue the fines to the 165-bed facility until it complies with state regulations.

The fine is the first civil penalty issued against a nursing home since the pandemic began. According to state data, Sagepoint has had 34 COVID deaths among patients. One employee has also died.