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Families often place loved ones in long-term care centers to ensure they receive a high level of care and that all their health, nursing and medication needs are met. This includes following physician’s orders when administering medications to maximize the drug’s efficacy to maintain or improve the patient’s health. Unfortunately, not all nursing staff follow physician’s orders in accordance with state and federal nursing home regulations, which can be highly detrimental to the health and well-being of the resident. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers provide legal representation to injured, neglected and abused patients residing in Illinois long-term care LTC centers like Bjorklund House.
Bjorklund House
This Nursing Facility is a ‘for profit’ Home providing services to residents of Oak Forest and Cook County, Illinois. The 16-certified-bed LTC Center is located at:
15841 Terrace Drive
Oak Forest, IL 60452
(708) 687-2038
The facility is just approximately thirty minutes southwest of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and offers training and education along with the development of social skills.
Oak Forest LTC Home Resident Safety Concerns
The federal government nursing home regulatory agency regularly updates their statewide nursing facility database system. The Illinois Department of Public Health [ltc.dph.illinois.gov] information contains a historical list of safety concerns, incident inquiries, health violations, filed complaints and opened investigations of every facility in each county.
The Cook County abuse and neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have found numerous health violations, inquiries, deficiencies, and safety concerns occurring at this long-term care home that include:
- Failure to Administer a Resident’s Medication in Accordance with the Physician’s Orders
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 11/07/2013, a notation by a state investigator during an annual survey referred to the facility’s failure to “ensure medications were recorded on the physician’s order sheet in the correct dosage according to the prescribed physician’s orders.” The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after reviewing a resident’s November 2013 Physician Order Sheet (POS).
The resident’s physician’s orders directed the staff to administer Sertraline (a medication used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCB), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSB), premenstrual dysphoric disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder.” The dosage in the evening was 2-1/2 milliliters and 25 milligrams. The state investigator asked the registered nurse administering medications “about the order stating 2-1/2 milliliters and 25 milligrams” where the 2-1/2 milliliters of the medication would equal 50 milligrams, not 25 milligrams based on the strength of the medication in the bottle.”
The Registered Nurse replied “it is supposed to be 25 milligrams, not 50 milligrams and she should have told the staff to give 25 milligrams which is written on the dropper.” The RN then “acknowledged it was an error and that the physician wanted [the resident] to receive Sertraline 50 milligrams.” A review of the resident’s 09/22/2015 physician’s orders revealed that the resident is to receive the medication with dinner.
In a separate summary statement of deficiencies dated 09/03/2015, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to assure that all medications are administered in compliance with physician’s orders.” This failure involved one resident “who is to receive medications ordered to be given at a specific time.”
The state investigator observed a medication pass occurring at 4:48 PM on 09/01/2015 when a resident was given an anti-convulsive medication “Felbamate 400 milligrams three tablets by mouth with water,” which is used to control partial seizures and certain types of epilepsy including Lennox-Gastaut. The investigator noted that the resident “was observed starting to eat dinner at 6:10 PM (over an hour after receiving the medication.”
An interview was conducted with the Direct Support Person (DSP) at 6:15 PM after the resident “was observed eating dinner and was asked why the medication [was] not given with dinner.” The DSP replied that the medication “is given with the med pass.”
A Registered Nurse (RN) was interviewed on the afternoon of 09/02/2015 who serves as the nurse trainer at the facility. The nurse was “asked about [the resident] not receiving his seizure medication Felbamate with dinner as ordered.” The RN stated that “she knows better than that, we have a two-hour window to give medications.”
As a part of the investigation, the facility was reminded that in accordance with state and federal law, “the system for drug administration must ensure that all drugs are administered in compliance with the physician’s orders.”
Oak Forest Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you and your family have concluded that your loved one was harm by caregivers, residents or visitors while residing at Bjorklund House, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers today. Our Oak Forest dedicated lawyers can provide numerous legal options on how to file and resolved claims for compensation against all those who caused your loved one’s injury, harm or premature death.
We urge you to contact our Cook County elder abuse law office today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a no-obligation complimentary initial recompense claim review. No upfront retainers or fees are required because we accept every wrongful death lawsuit, personal injury case and nursing home abuse and neglect claim for compensation on contingency. This means we are paid for our legal fees only after we have won your case at trial or negotiated an out of court settlement on your behalf.
Sources:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6013999FI09032015.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6013999FIK10162014.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6013999FIK11072013.PDF
