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Freeze on Fairfield Center lifted
(Comment on this)
By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer
FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield Center is now allowed to accept new residents; the state has lifted its admissions suspension.
In a letter to Fairfield Center administrator Cheryl Farnsley, Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Assistant Deputy Director Ernie Fischer wrote that visits to the facility were made on April 26, June 1 and July 7 to "verify licensesure citations in the suspension of admissions letter on March 14, and citations on March 20 and June 9 have been corrected."
The center's admissions were initially suspended following the Feb. 21 death of resident Joseph Beaudoin, 50. His roommate. Edward "Teddy" Shuman, 21, was accused of strangling him. Shuman had only been at the privately-run Kolb Drive facility six days after being transferred from the more restrictive Southwest Ohio Developmental Center in Batavia.
Weekly visits were conducted since April 26 to monitor Fairfield Center officials' implementation of the plans of compliance.
"Based on the results of the most recent plan of compliance visit conducted on July 7, I am satisfied that appropriate corrections have been taken to address deficiencies and ensure proper care and services are being provided to the individuals residing in this facility," Fischer wrote.
Regular visits and surveys will be made to ensure the center's compliance.
Farnsley could not be reached for comment.
Shuman was found incompetent to stand trial on a charge of first-degree murder and was ordered by Butler County Probate Court Randy Rogers to stay at the Columbus Developmental Center for two years. Shuman had been at the CDC since March 3.
Two incidents since Beaudoin's death occurred at the Fairfield Center which delayed lifting the suspension.
Beaudoin's family has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Fairfield Center, the Butler County Board of MRDD and 10 others, alleging negligence and failure to provide a safe environment for Beaudoin.
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or at mpitman@coxohio.com
Comments
By Dorlene DePew
July 27, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this
This should not be allowed. The same thing is going to happen over again. The workers need to be retrained on to handle the patients and keep a closer eye them. Teh center also needs to hire more workers. The only way to pay for this is for the higher up to take a cut in pay. the don’t really know what goes on until someone gets hurt or killed.