Maggots found in patients' wounds

BLOOMINGDALE (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - There are some disturbing violations against a West Michigan nursing home that has led to a state ordered shut down.

The Metron facility in Bloomingdale is home to about 70 patients and about 100 employees.

State evaluators found horrible things when they went into Metron several months ago. They found two patients who had wounds infested with maggots.

On one of those patients more than fifty maggots were found on a facial tumor, ear and cheek.

When an investigator surveyed the site in early November one of the residents who had had maggots in a wound back in September, still wasn't getting proper care. The inspector noted a cushion being used was very soiled with white matter, and the dressing wasn't changed frequently enough.

The state says bottom line: Metron had not done enough to bring the facility up to standards.

"When we went back after 180 days we found those citations were not changed, therefore we have to move forward and revoke its license," said a state worker. "The state's number one concern is to be sure these patients are in the best of care and they are receiving the best care this facility promised. If that's not happening, we are going to take proper action to insure safety."

Metron certainly hasn't been without problems in the past. The state Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the operator in Big Rapids after a patient died in 2005.

Metron itself decided to close the Kalamazoo site because of financial concerns.