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The use of antipsychotic medications in nursing facilities has been on the rise significantly in the last few years. Unfortunately, many nursing staff members use these medications to control the patient is a measure of convenience that minimizes the need for monitoring and supervision. However, using antipsychotic medications in this manner is strictly prohibited by federal and state nursing home regulatory agencies. The elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers provide legal services to overmedicated patients residing at Illinois nursing facilities including Carmi Manor Rehab and Nursing Center.
Carmi Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
This Center is a 74-certified-bed “for-profit” Medicare/Medicaid-approved nursing facility providing services to residents of Carmi and White County, Illinois. The nursing home is located at:
615 W. Webb St.
Carmi, IL 62821
(618) 382-7270
The facility provides skilled nursing care along with joint/hip replacement care, stroke recovery care, cardiac care, neuromuscular disorder care, post-surgical strengthening, COPD/CHF care, IV therapy, diabetes management, medication management, wound care and tracheotomy care.
Carmi Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
To ensure families are fully informed of the level of care every nursing home provides, the federal government and the state of Illinois routinely update their nursing home database system. This information contains a complete list of filed complaints, opened investigations, health violations and safety concerns that can be found on numerous websites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, Carmi Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center maintains an overall two out of five available star rating in the nationwide comparison analysis Medicare summary system. This includes three out of five stars for health inspections and staffing concerns and one out of five stars for quality measures. The White County nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have found serious safety concerns at this facility that include:
- Failure to Ensure That Every Resident’s Medication Regimen Is Free from Unnecessary Drugs
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 01/21/2016, a notation was made by a state surveyor during an annual licensure and certification survey involving the facility's failure to "document specific behaviors, gradual dose reductions, and indications for use of antipsychotic medications. The deficient practice by the nursing staff at Carmi Manor Rehab and Nursing Center affected one resident at the facility.
The deficient practice was first noted in the investigator’s findings during an observation of a resident at 12:30 PM on 01/20/2016 who “was sitting in the dining room across from his brother eating lunch [while] alert and quiet, looking around and interacting with his brother.” Observations made of the resident at 3:58 PM that same day, the resident was noted to be “fully dressed and in his bed asleep.
A review of the resident’s MDS (Minimum Data Set) documents that the resident “has no behaviors [...and] no target behaviors or tracking of related behaviors.” However, the resident’s Progress Notes by the resident’s physician between 08/11/2015 and 01/11/2016 “do not document why [the resident] needs the antipsychotic medication or the reason for continuing the medication.” The investigator noted that the actions by the nursing staff failed to follow the facility’s October 2007 Medications – Drug Reductions: Policy Interpretation and Implementation that reads in part:
“Antipsychotic drugs will receive gradual dose reductions unless clinically contraindicated, in an effort to discontinue the use of such drugs.… Our drug reduction program consist of tapering the resident’s daily dose to determine if the resident symptoms can be controlled by a lower dose or determine if the dose can be eliminated altogether.”
- Failure to Develop, Implement, and Enforce Policies That Eliminate the Spread of Infection throughout the Facility
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 01/21/2016, a state investigator noted a deficient practice during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility's failure to "properly handle soiled linens, prevent cross-contamination during medication administration, to use effective and sanitation during and after direct resident contact and label and store resident’s equipment. These failures have the potential to affect all 35 residents in the facility.”
One failure was first noted during an observation of two Certified Nursing Aides at 2:05 PM on 01/20/2016 “in the soiled laundry area sorting soiled clothing in bed linens from large barrels. The employees were using “ungloved hands to transfer the items.” A housekeeping employee “stated that at the time there was no designated laundry staff [...and] that the CNAs and housekeepers do all the facility laundry. At the time of the observation, a cart against the wall was overfilled with cloth incontinence pads and the pads were stacked against the wall.”
Carmi Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you suspect your loved one has suffered harm through abuse, neglect or mistreatment while a patient at Carmi Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, call the Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers law offices. Our Illinois nursing home attorneys can provide immediate legal intervention to stop the unnecessary use of antipsychotic medications now. In addition, our law firm can handle every aspect of your financial recompense case against those who caused the damages.
We encourage you to contact our White County elder abuse law offices by calling 888 424-5757 today to schedule your free, full case evaluation. No upfront fees or retainers are required because we accept all nursing home abuse and neglect cases through contingency fee agreements.
Sources:
http://bit.do/RILnursingCarmiNH
