The Bush administration is hoping to shame some nursing homes into improving patient care by posting a list of the facilities considered among the worst in their states.

The list includes the Hillcrest Centre for Health and Rehabilitation in Jeffersonville, and the Valparaiso Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Officials at Hillcrest had no comment when reached by The Associated Press tonight. The AP left a phone message seeking comment from officials at the Valparaiso nursing home.

Lawmakers and advocacy groups had been pushing the administration to make it easier for consumers to identify substandard homes. They complain that too many facilities are cited for serious deficiencies and make inadequate or temporary improvements.

Fifty-six nursing homes from 33 states and Washington, D.C. are on the list which will be posted on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Web site tomorrow. The facilities on that list failed to make improvements after being flagged by inspectors.
Every nursing home receiving federal payments undergoes inspections about once a year. The inspectors look for whether residents are properly medicated, helped with daily tasks, and whether steps are taken to prevent accidents and infections.