DPH issues administrative order to revoke license of assisted living facility in Bishopville after numerous safety, health violations

COLUMBIA — On Tuesday, Aug. 16, the South Carolina Department of Public Health issued an administrative order revoking the license of Cottonwood Villas, an assisted living facility in Bishopville, effective 45 days from the issuance of the order, on Oct. 31.

DPH determined this action was appropriate to protect the health and well-being of the facility’s residents. The facility may appeal DPH’s decision in accordance with applicable law. DPH is monitoring this matter.

DPH determined that Cottonwood Villas, 800 W. Church St. in Bishopville, was in violation of state regulations for Community Residential Care Facilities. DPH also determined Cottonwood Villas engaged in conduct or practices detrimental to the health or safety of the facility’s residents. It has a total of 85 beds, according to the order.

According to the administrative order, DPH visited the facility on Jan. 31 for a routine inspection and found numerous violations, including that not enough staff members were present during peak hours, care plans for residents were not reviewed semi-annually, and there were multiple kitchen and food preparation violations. The facility sent its plan of correction to the department, and on April 11, the department returned to the facility to conduct multiple investigations, with several violations reported. The facility again submitted a plan of correction.

A separate investigation was conducted during a routine fire life and safety inspection four days later on April 15, which also found numerous violations including an extension cord in use near a kitchen sink and exit/emergency lights not working. Again the facility submitted plans to correct the violations, after which DPH returned May 20 and detailed more violations for housekeeping and not taking precautions to prevent one resident from wandering away from the facility. According to an April police report, the resident who had multiple health conditions including dementia and who was known to wander was found down the road from the facility on the ground and returned to the facility.

More violations were reported after additional DPH visits to the facility on May 29 and June 6. An enforcement conference was scheduled for July 21, according to the order, but the facility's owners, Marie and Dirk Heiser, did not attend. The facility's administrator did attend the meeting.

At the meeting, DPH learned it was not informed that the ownership of the facility had changed after Lakewood Properties LLC dissolved in March 2020. The facility was cited by mail for this violation, after which the facility applied to change its ownership to Patriot Living of Bishopville. Dirk Heiser owns both businesses, and there has been no action taken on the application.

In August, the department visited again twice and found more violations after learning the facility did not pay its utilities bills and was in danger of being cut off from water and sewer services for past-due balances. It was also found to be operating without a license.

After a virtual enforcement conference Sept. 12 at which only the administrator met with DPH and the owners again failed to attend, DPH issued its order revoking the license for operation of Cottonwood Villas as a Community Residential Care Facility.

As part of the decision to revoke the license, the department wrote that "despite attempts to assist by the Department, the Facility's efforts to obtain compliance have been minimal."

A full list of violations can be found in the administrative order at https://tinyurl.com/yuekbzsr.

“It is the responsibility of community residential care facilities to operate in compliance with all applicable laws,” said Gwen Thompson, DPH’s Director of Healthcare Quality. “Our ultimate goal is for all of our state’s community residential care facilities to operate in accordance with these laws, which exist to establish standards for protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the residents they care for. If a facility creates a dangerous living condition, we will take actions to protect residents, who are always our top priority.”

DPH regulates South Carolina’s community residential care facilities to ensure they provide quality care to their residents as required by state laws and regulations. Through complaint investigations, routine inspections, and regular communications with facilities and industry stakeholders, DPH works to ensure community residential care facilities have the resources and information they need for operating in compliance with state laws and regulations.

Learn more about DPH’s role with permitting community residential care facilities and find applicable state regulations at dph.sc.gov/professionals/healthcare-quality.

This facility may also be subject to additional state or federal laws.

DPH encourages the public to use an online complaint form at https://tinyurl.com/j93vxs9k if they suspect any type of wrongdoing or unsafe conditions at a health care facility or service regulated by DPH. Anyone unable to submit a health facility complaint online can call DPH at 1-800-922-6735 and indicate that they wish to file a complaint against a health facility or service, and DPH will follow up as needed.