The notes from the Fairfax County Healthcare Advisory Board meeting (where they recommended approving Vierra Falls Church's expansion plans) were released yesterday. See some minute notes below (not my words). I have firsthand experience with this facility and the first paragraph is 100% false. And the last statement regarding emotions running high in this business - what a slap in the face to the families who have experienced egregious negligence at this facility. Shame on this board. What an embarrassment to be so easily duped even when presented with numerous facts from the state health department about serious issues that have occurred repeatedly in this facility.

Resolution on Medication Mistakes/Violations:
Vierra responded that if a medication mistake and/or violation occurs, they first examine if it
was a systemic or individual error. Regarding reports on medication mistakes/violations, Vierra
identified and implemented corrective actions prior to the state of Virginia showing up to the
facility to address the issue. No harm to any patient was reported and they work to minimize
harm as much as possible.

Regarding quality assurance, specifically on complaints, Vierra conducts a daily 24-hour report to review events in the past 24 hours. They use their electronic medical record system to flag issues e.g., falls, abuse, which is monitored by staff daily. Vierra stated that they address complaints early, but residents still voice grievances and Vierra acknowledges this issue but admits that sometimes the families of residents just need to communicate the matter. Vierra attempts to sit down with families on complaints, but it does not always occur. Furthermore, emotions are high given the nature of this business – e.g., taking care of dementia patients.

Awful

Update: despite serious concerns from the community and a very high number of health/complaint citations, Fairfax County Health Care Advisory Board approved Vierra's plans to expand.

I am sorry for your losses and hope the place is shut down and executives jailed.

In researching their expansions plans, I have been told that anyone with concerns should contact the office of James Bierman (the Dranesville District of Fairfax County representative).

Phone: 703-356-0551
Email: dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov

Write to the board of supervisors. Testify at the public hearing. This is awful. I am so sorry to hear all these stories.

Does anyone know the most effective way to flag these issues to Fairfax County Zoning office (or if it would even be considered)? It looks like they have a hearing scheduled for permitting in February. Many of the issues have been investigated & documented via VA Dept of Health and are available to read publicly on Medicare's website.

Wow this is awful. How can Fairfax even consider expansion? I wonder if the media would be interested. Condolences to those of you who lost a loved one in such terrible circumstances.

Also had a horrible experience there. Caregivers were rude to say the least, but she was not given oxygen when vitals were low even though it was ordered.

Sounds like they should be shut down

I too had a horrific experience at this facility with a family member. The issues were extremely serious and involved a wide range of problems, not the least of which was a significant problem with medication administration (including controlled substances).
I was the original complainant that requested an investigation by VA Dept of Health resulting in the corrective action plan you refer to.
Assuming Medicare was utilized during some or all of your family member's stay, I would strongly urge you to contact Medicare Fraud via Senior Medicare Patrol if you have not done so already.
I am very sorry for your loss. Saddened but not surprised that life threatening issues persist at this facility. Management here utilized stonewalling and gaslighting techniques when problems arose clearly as a way of protecting themselves. Deeply disturbing experience for my family.

Thank you. Now that you mention it, we were told that the medical examiner did take it upon herself to notify the police.

Also, right after she was admitted to the ER for the overdose, the admin at Vierra volunteered to us that they felt they had no legal duty to report themselves to the state licensing authority.

The ER doctors told us that Vierra never told the EMT’s about the overdose, so the ER doctors were scratching their heads about what put her in that condition (unconscious but moaning in pain and having convulsions). The whole ordeal is horrific but the callous attitude of Vierra and the private family wealth firm that owns them makes it all the more painful.

Did I mention that Vierra is currently seeking approval from Fairfax County Zoning to expand their footprint? They can’t even handle their own residents but they don’t care… they are going after more residents and more money.

Anonymous wrote:My MIL was admitted to Vierra in May 2024 for rehab services, and within days Vierra administered 10x the dose of IV medication into her IV bag (in one serving, by opening 10 separate vials), causing her to go into convulsions, unconscious and moaning. My MIL died 5 days later at VHC. A quick Google search revealed that Vierra was under a corrective action plan since September 2023 with CMMS for a 25% error rate in medication dosage administration. According to the CMMS report, “All residents are at risk.” Vierra never once reached out to our family after she died, other than to send us a bill for medication they allegedly administered while she was already at VHC, dying from their overdose. In what can only be described as systematic indifference to patient rights, they also overwhelmed us with reams of paper, mostly repetitive nonsense but importantly including HIPAA-protected records from another resident. For those of you who don’t know, Vierra is part of a conglomerate of nursing facilities owned by a “private family wealth” firm named Modalia Capital. It is eye-popping that there has been no ban on admissions.

Please sue OP. Venture capital is ruining what’s left of our system.

I hope you have an attorney.

At a minimum, file a police report for your MIL's death and ask for it to be investigated like a crime.

Because it is.

I don't care if they are "medical professionals" or not. It is not unknown for them to purposely poison elderly patients.

My MIL was admitted to Vierra in May 2024 for rehab services, and within days Vierra administered 10x the dose of IV medication into her IV bag (in one serving, by opening 10 separate vials), causing her to go into convulsions, unconscious and moaning. My MIL died 5 days later at VHC. A quick Google search revealed that Vierra was under a corrective action plan since September 2023 with CMMS for a 25% error rate in medication dosage administration. According to the CMMS report, “All residents are at risk.” Vierra never once reached out to our family after she died, other than to send us a bill for medication they allegedly administered while she was already at VHC, dying from their overdose. In what can only be described as systematic indifference to patient rights, they also overwhelmed us with reams of paper, mostly repetitive nonsense but importantly including HIPAA-protected records from another resident. For those of you who don’t know, Vierra is part of a conglomerate of nursing facilities owned by a “private family wealth” firm named Modalia Capital. It is eye-popping that there has been no ban on admissions.