ExcelCare At Egg Harbor Faces Scrutiny Over Patient Safety Concerns

ExcelCare At Egg Harbor Faces Scrutiny Over Patient Safety Concerns...

ExcelCare, a prominent healthcare provider in Egg Harbor, New Jersey, is under fire following a federal inspection report revealing multiple patient safety violations. The findings, released Monday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), have sparked public outrage and put the facility's Medicare funding at risk.

The 42-page report details failures in infection control, medication errors, and inadequate staffing at the 120-bed skilled nursing facility. Inspectors documented at least seven cases where patients received wrong dosages of critical medications between January and March 2026. One incident involved a diabetic resident who was given another patient's insulin prescription.

New Jersey Department of Health records show ExcelCare received 14 complaints in the past year, triple the state average for similar facilities. The trend gained national attention after local ABC affiliate WPVI aired interviews with family members of affected patients on April 12. Viewers flooded social media with personal stories using #ExcelCareFailures.

CMS has given the facility until May 1 to correct deficiencies or face termination from Medicare and Medicaid programs. ExcelCare CEO Martin Forsythe acknowledged the findings in a statement Wednesday, calling them "unacceptable" while pledging immediate reforms. The company operates 28 senior care facilities across four states.

Egg Harbor Township officials confirmed they're reviewing the facility's local operating permits. Mayor Lisa Ji announced a town hall meeting scheduled for April 20 where state health officials will address community concerns. The controversy comes as New Jersey grapples with nursing home staffing shortages that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patient advocacy groups are urging families to review inspection reports at Medicare's Care Compare website. "These aren't paperwork issues - these are life-and-death failures," said AARP New Jersey director Stephanie Hunsinger. The organization is pushing for state legislation that would mandate minimum nurse-to-patient ratios.

ExcelCare's corporate website currently lists 12 open positions at the Egg Harbor location, including three nursing roles. Workforce data shows the facility's nurse turnover rate exceeded 50% in 2025, compared to the national average of 32% for skilled nursing facilities.

The New Jersey Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman has assigned two additional investigators to handle ExcelCare-related complaints. Families with concerns can contact their hotline at 1-877-582-6995. Meanwhile, several law firms specializing in elder abuse cases have begun investigating potential lawsuits against the facility.