The state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) imposed the order on the Renton Highlands Health and Rehabilitation Center on Sept. 24 for violating state and federal standards of care.

A state inspection report cites numerous violations found during an unannounced inspection at the 100-bed nursing home Sept. 17. The sanction applies to all new admissions, readmissions and transfers of residents to the home.

The report identified 19 deficiencies, four of which caused actual harm.

The nursing home's operators disputed three of the state's findings but pledged to correct all problems by Oct. 20, said Kamla Mehta, a DSHS regional field manager.

State officials will return to the facility sometime after that to do another inspection.

"If they are in compliance, we will lift the order," Mehta said. "If not, a federal remedy would come into effect. "

The four most serious problems documented in the report were:

´ Mistreatment of a resident by a staff member and the home's failure to investigate the incident.

´ Poor treatment to residents who required care for incontinence.

´ Failure to ensure adequate nutrition to a resident, resulting in rapid weight loss.

´ Failure to bathe, change and shampoo the hair of one resident.

The nursing home was cited for placing some of its residents in immediate jeopardy by failing to properly sanitize dishes, cookware and utensils, but the home quickly corrected the problems, the report says.

The nursing home at 1110 Edmonds Ave. N. E. is licensed and operated by Evergreen Washington Healthcare. It serves Medicaid, Medicare and private-pay residents.

DSHS enforces federal Medicaid/Medicare and state licensing requirements for about 280 nursing homes statewide through unannounced inspections and complaint investigations.