Salud reanudará inspecciones nocturnas en hogares para personas con discapacidad intelectual
El secretario Víctor Ramos Otero ordenó retomar las visitas nocturnas tras la remoción de todos los pacientes de un centro en Isabela.
File photoThe short version
- NotiCel reports that Víctor Ramos Otero ordered the resumption of nighttime inspections in homes for people with intellectual disabilities
- All patients were removed from a center in Isabela and families were notified the same day according to the secretary
- NotiCel reported that the Department of Health maintains around 90 homes in the program each receiving at least one weekly visit
- Ramos Otero stated that only two centers have required patient removals since he took office
Reanudación de visitas nocturnas
On Tuesday, October 20, the secretary of the Department of Health, Víctor Ramos Otero, announced that he ordered the resumption of nighttime inspections in homes serving people with intellectual disabilities. NotiCel reported that these visits had previously been suspended due to internal discussions related to the program and a federal case.
Ramos Otero told reporters that all homes are visited weekly by Department of Health monitors. The operators do not know in advance which day the monitor will arrive. The secretary added that around 90 homes remain in the intellectual disability program following the intervention in Isabela.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
A mí no me ha temblado el impulso en mandar a sacar a todos los participantes de un hogar donde pueden estar en riesgo.
Our translation: I have not hesitated to order the removal of all participants from a home where they may be at risk.
The source's own statement, as quoted by NotiCel. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Centro en Isabela
According to NotiCel, all patients from the investigated center in Isabela were relocated and their families were notified on the same day of the transfer. Four family members participated in a related meeting on Monday.
Ramos Otero stated that the investigation continues. Once all approximately 15 employees and the owners are interviewed, officials will decide whether to refer the case to another agency and whether to continue the contract with that home. No patients currently remain at the facility.
Where the sources differ
The sources agree on the core facts about the resumption of nighttime inspections and the Isabela case. NotiCel on October 20 is the only source that reports the order by Víctor Ramos Otero to resume nighttime visits, the weekly monitoring of around 90 homes, the removal of all patients from the Isabela center, and his statements about only two prior removals. El Vocero on October 19 reports separately on a Cámara de Representantes hearing and Ficpro's call for uniformity in services and payments across agencies for people with intellectual disabilities, with differing monthly rates cited for Salud, Familia and Assmca; this article is not mentioned in NotiCel.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state what specific issues prompted the intervention and full patient removal from the Isabela center. They provide no timeline for completing the employee and owner interviews or when a final decision on contract continuation or referral will be made. No details are given on the nature of the two prior cases in which patients were removed since Ramos Otero took office.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Salud reanudará inspecciones nocturnas en hogares para personas con discapacidad intelectual
- Reporting Salud reanudará inspecciones nocturnas en hogares para personas con discapacidad intelectual
- Reporting Reclaman uniformidad en servicios para personas con discapacidad intelectual
How we checked this
NotiCel reported the secretary's announcement on resuming nighttime inspections and details of the Isabela case. El Vocero covered a separate call for service uniformity by Ficpro. The claim that only two centers have required patient removals rests solely on Ramos Otero as quoted by NotiCel.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.