THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS LEVIED FINES AND BARRED AN ELIZABETHTON NURSING HOME FROM TAKING NEW PATIENTS. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY STAFF MEMBERS AT THE HERMITAGE HEALTH CENTER DIDN’T FOLLOW DOCTORS’ ORDERS AND COMMITTED OTHER VIOLATIONS. THE STATE CLAIMS HERMITAGE IS FACING A 15-HUNDRED DOLLAR STATE PENALTY. IT HAS RECOMMENDED A FEDERAL CIVIL PENALTY BE IMPOSED AT 35-HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY UNTIL THE VIOLATIONS ARE CORRECTED. NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR JEANNIE BARKER SAYS THE STATE’S ALLEGATIONS INVOLVE ONE RESIDENT WHO DIDN’T GET THE BLOOD WORK ORDERED BY A DOCTOR. A SPECIAL MONITOR WILL BE APPOINTED TO REVIEW THE CENTER’S OPERATIONS.