Resident-to-resident assault is a serious problem in nursing homes all across Illinois. Often times, the assaults occur due to a lack of supervision of residents who exhibit inappropriate aggressive behavior toward caregivers and other residents. To ensure patients remain safe in the enclosed environment, nursing staff members are required to provide ongoing monitoring of aggressive residents and comprehensively investigate every incident of abuse to eliminate further abuse to the victim. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes follow these protocols. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have represented residents who were abused in resident-to-resident assault while residing in Illinois nursing facilities like Galena Stauss Nursing Home.
Galena Stauss Nursing Home
This facility is a 57-certified-bed ‘not-for-profit’ Center providing nursing cares and services to residents of Galena and Jo Daviess County, Illinois. The Medicare/Medicaid-accepted Nursing Home is located at:
215 Summit Street
Galena, Il 61036
(815) 776-7254
As a part of the Midwest Medical Center, Galena Stauss Nursing Home and Senior Care Community provide around-the-clock care.
Galena Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
Families can visit Medicare.gov to obtain a historical list of all filed complaints, safety concerns, health violations and opened investigations of every facility nationwide. The information can be used to determine the level of health and hygiene carer a community nursing home provides its residents.
Currently, Galena Stauss Nursing Home maintains an overall four out of five available star rating in the Medicare star rating summary system compared to all other facilities in the United States. This includes five out of five stars for health inspections, three out of five stars for quality measures and one out of five stars for staffing concerns. The Jo Daviess County nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have found many safety concerns, deficiencies and violations at this facility that include:
- Failure to Investigate and Report Allegations or Incidences of Abuse
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 08/24/2016, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility’s failure to “report resident to resident altercations in an injury of unknown origin to the State Agency.”
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after a review of an August a 2016 Fax Transmission Report revealing that on 08/06/2016 “during the evening meal, [the resident] picked up his fork and attempted to stab his teammate.” This incident was reported to the State Agency on 08/08/2016.”
In a separate incident, a review of the facility’s 07/04/2016 Fax Transmission Report revealed that a resident “was noted to have markings of unknown origin extending from her right thigh to her groin area on 07/01/2016. The report of the injury of unknown origin was reported to the State agency in 07/05/2016.”
The 07/20/2016 Fax transmission Report indicated another incident where a resident “struck another resident in the back of the head on 07/02/2016. This resident’s incident was reported to the State agency [nearly 4 weeks later] on 07/20/2016.”
A report to the State agency on 07/27/2016 revealed that a resident “struck another resident with his fist on 06/11/2016. This resident to resident incident was reported [over a month later] on 07/27/2016.”
The investigator conducted an interview with the facility Administrator and Assistant Administrator who stated: “investigations and incidences should be reported immediately to the State Agency.” The deficient practice by the administration failed to follow their 04/18/2016 revise Suspect the Resident Abuse Policy that reads in part:
“The Director of Nursing or designee shall call or fax report to the state agency immediately.”
- Failure to Provide a Level of Care to Eliminate the Spread of Infection
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 10/07/2015, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure to “keep the catheter bag and tubing below the level of the [ resident’s] bladder to prevent infections.”
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings of a resident “treated for urinary tract infection on 04/06/2015, 06/13/2015, 07/21/2015, 07/27/2015, antibiotic change on 07/30/2015 and 09/11/2015.”
An observation was made of the resident at 1:15 AM on 10/06/2015 who “was sitting in his wheelchair and his urinary drainage bag was hanging from the top rung of his walker. The urinary drainage bag was above the level of his bladder.” In an interview with the facility process, the Licensed Practical Nurse was revealed that “the urinary drainage bag should be kept below the bladder to prevent backflow of urine back into the bladder causing a potential for a urinary tract infection (UTI).”
Galena Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your parent, grandparent or spouse has been injured or harmed while residing at Galena Stauss Nursing Home, call Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC now. Our team of skilled, reputable Galena nursing home attorneys can assist your family and successfully resolving your case for financial recompense against all parties who caused your loved one’s harm including the nursing home, staff members, Administrator, visitors and other residents.
We encourage you to contact our Jo Daviess County elder abuse law offices today by calling 888 424-5757 to schedule your no obligation, initial case evaluation at no charge. Our law firm does not require any upfront payment because we accept all nursing home neglect and abuse cases through contingency fee agreements.
Sources:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6003438FIK08242016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6003438FIK10072015.PDF
http://www.midwestmedicalcenter.org/wordpress/nursing-home/
http://bit.do/RILnursing-Galena-Stauss-Nursing-Home
