OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- An Oklahoma State Department of Health report shows no deficiencies for licensure on life safety standards for the Northern Oklahoma Resource Center of Enid, according to an Oklahoma Department of Human Services official.

An eight-member State Health Department team conducted a complete Title XIX State Licensure and Life Safety Code assessment at NORCE in October. The team stated there were no life-safety deficiencies for licensure at the facility.

NORCE Director John Barton said, "We were very pleased with the outcome of the survey and we believe it’s a statement about the outstanding quality services our employees are delivering for the clients we serve at this facility everyday."

The assessment covers every function of the NORCE facility including direct care, documentation, housekeeping and maintenance. NORCE will continue to provide quality service to its clients and receive state and federal funding for being in compliance with the Title XIX requirements.

The assessment team praised the staff for the quality interaction and care that they routinely provide their clients. They were particularly impressed with the mealtime plans, food preparation and staff. Direct care staff always assisted each other when needed, knew where the clients were and where they had been.

The team noted a few areas of concern that could be improved, but the concerns were not critical in their observations. Barton said, "We have improvement plans underway on the surveyors’ recommendations, with a targeted completion date of Jan.1, 2003.

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