The state agency responsible for inspecting and certifying Idaho healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living centers, has a huge backlog, including 135 complaints awaiting investigation, according to an article on The Spokesman-Review website.

The Division of Licensing and Certification for the state Department of Health and Welfare has been hit by heavy turnover due to stress and an unmanageable workload, according to an agency official.

There is a backlog of 275 overdue surveys, 135 open complaints awaiting investigation and 11 facilities waiting for initial licensing or certification surveys. And that doesn’t count the 3,166 regular surveys due in calendar year 2015 or additional complaints that regularly come in, hundreds a year, the article said.

The division has 26 health facility surveyors for more than 500 facilities, and eight surveyors for 300 residential assisted living facilities. It has nine surveyors qualified to survey the 2,200 certified family homes; and two to survey 140 developmental disabilities agencies.

Read the article.