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Nursing homes have a legal obligation to report every alleged violation related to abuse, neglect, mistreatment or an injury of unknown origin. Unfortunately, many Administrators and nursing staff sidestep this requirement and any subsequent investigation by claiming they understand what caused the resident’s injuries. Sadly, the Cahokia elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have handled many cases where residents were harmed due to the neglectful and unreported actions of the nursing staff.
Illinois state survey agencies under the direction of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require every facility immediately report all alleged violations at the facility that involve abuse, neglect, mistreatment and any injury of an unknown source to the facility’s Administrator and all other officials in accordance with Illinois state law. In addition, the facility must gather all evidence involving the alleged violation through thorough investigation and take steps to provide interventions to prevent any further potential mistreatment or abuse while the investigation remains in progress. Any failure to do so could cause additional harm or injury to the resident.
Cahokia Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterCahokia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 150-certified bed for profit Medicare/Medicaid-participating facility providing nursing services to residents of Cahokia and St. Clair County, Illinois. The facility is located at:
2 Annable Court
Cahokia, Illinois 62206
(618) 332-0114
They offer rehabilitation services: physical, occupational, and speech therapy. In addition to therapy, they also provide restorative nursing, wound care, on-site podiatry, dental, and vision care, respite care, hospice care, and IV therapy.
Cahokia Nursing Home Resident Safety ConcernsTo ensure that families are updated on the most current information on nursing homes in the United States, both the state of Illinois and the federal government routinely update their databases to reflect newly filed complaints, opened investigations, safety concerns and health violations on every facility nationwide. The updated information can be found on numerous websites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, Cahokia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center maintains an overall two out of five available star rating in the national star rating summary system operated by Medicare and Medicaid. This includes five out of five stars for quality measures, three out of five stars for staffing issues and one out of five stars for health concerns. Our Cahokia nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous complaints and concerns involving this facility that include:
- Failure to Report and Investigate Any Act or Allegation of Abuse or Mistreatment of Residents
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 03/30/2016, a state surveyor made a notation during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility's failure to "immediately report an injury of unknown origin to the Administrator and the Department.” The investigator also noted the facility’s failure “to thoroughly investigate an injury of unknown origin for [two residents at the facility] reviewed for injuries of unknown origin.”
One incident involved a resident at the facility who could only “stabilize with the assistance of staff.” The resident’s “balance moving from surface to surface (i.e. moving from wheelchair to bed) is not steady, and [the resident] can only be stabilized with the assistance of staff.” The investigator noted that a review of the resident’s 11/09/2015 Interdisciplinary Progress Note revealed the resident “was in the library bumping into walls in her wheelchair. The note documents the nurse noticed [the resident’s] lap buddy needed adjusting and when the nurse lifted [the resident’s] left upper extremity, [the resident] cried out in pain.” In addition, “the Progress Note documented [the resident] also cried out in pain during ADL (activities of daily living) before the library incident [...and that the resident’s] Physician and Power of Attorney were notified.”
However, the Interdisciplinary Progress Notes that the facility’s “Administrator was notified. The Note did not document the facility began to investigate how [the resident] sustained injuries to her upper extremities.” In addition, the investigator noted that there was no documentation indicating “that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) was notified” as required by state and federal nursing home regulations and laws.
- Failure to Develop, Implement, and Enforce Policies That Prevent Neglect, Abuse or Mistreatment of Residents
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 03/30/2016, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to operationalize its abuse policy by not reporting injuries of unknown origin immediately to the Administrator and the Department and not thoroughly investigating reporting the injuries of unknown origin.”
The investigator noted that the inaction of the Administrator and nursing staff at Cahokia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center failed to follow the facility’s policy titled Handout B Staff Obligation to Prevent and Report Abuse, Neglect, Theft, and Crimes Committed against Residents that reads in part:
“Every employee is obligated to report any incident of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of funds immediately to the Administrator [...and] the State Agency also.”
If your loved one has suffered from abuse by caregivers, administrators or another resident while residing at Cahokia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, or any other nursing facility in Illinois, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can provide immediate legal intervention. Our St. Clair County elder abuse attorneys can take proactive steps to begin the process of obtaining the financial compensation your family deserves for your loved one’s pain and injury.
Contact our Cahokia Illinois nursing home abuse law firm today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free, full case evaluation. We accept all personal injury abuse cases on contingency to avoid the need for an upfront payment.
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