The staff members in nursing facilities often fail to recognize that their actions can strip the dignity and respect of individuality of residents under their care. While providing services during their daily activities, nurses and nurse aides will openly discuss a resident’s medical condition in front of others or disrespect the resident’s right to privacy and protection under the law. The elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC provide legal advice, counsel, and representation to individuals who have been disrespected, neglected, mistreated and abused at Illinois nursing facilities like OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center.
OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center
OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center Skilled Nursing Facility is a ‘not for profit’ 24-certified-bed Medicaid/Medicare-participating nursing center providing services to residents of Alton and Madison County, Illinois. The facility is located at:
915 E. Fifth Street
Alton, IL 62002
(618) 465-2571
In addition to providing around-the-clock skilled nursing care, the facility also offers cardiovascular care, cancer care, rehabilitation, specialty services, and diabetes care.
Alton Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
Families can obtain a historical list of all safety concerns, health violations, filed complaints and opened investigations of every facility nationwide by looking on the Medicare.gov website. The information can be used to determine the level of health and hygiene care every nursing home in the community provides its residents.
Currently, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center maintains an overall three out of five available star rating in the nationwide comparison analysis Medicare star rating summary system. This includes four out of five stars for staffing issues and health inspections and one out of five stars for quality measures. The Madison nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have found serious deficiencies and safety concerns at this facility that include:
- Failure to Provide a Level of Care to Residents That Ensures Their Dignity and Respect of Individuality Are Maintained
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 03/07/2014, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility’s failure to “ensure no signs containing medical information are posted in the resident’s room which are viewable by the public.”
The state investigator made a notation during an observation at 2:25 PM on 03/06/2014 that “there was a large white dry erase board in [the resident’s] room on the wall.” The board documents directives to the staff in providing assistance, walker use and ambulation. “There was a sign on the wall labeled Patient Hourly Rounds” that documented the resident’s pain score.
Additional signs were found in other resident’s rooms documenting the use of gait belt assist, diabetic diet, the level of assistance required with transfers, wheeled walker use, leg elevation, and other directives/information.
The state investigator interviewed the facility’s Registered Nurse/Care Plan/Minimum Data Set Coordinator on the afternoon of 03/06/2014 who stated: “the facility has had the whiteboards in the residence rooms for years […and] stated it was very important to have the resident’s medical information visible to the staff.” The Coordinator also stated that “anyone who visits needs to know the level of thickening in a resident’s drink […and] stated the whiteboards are for the resident safety and everyone should be able to read it.
However, the actions of the nursing staff and Administration at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center failed to follow resident’s rights as defined by Medicare that reads in part:
Nursing home residents have certain rights and protection under the laws [including] the right to be treated with dignity and respect.”
- Failure to Develop Policies of Prevent Abuse, Neglect and Mistreatment of Residents
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 02/11/2015, a complaint investigation was opened against the facility for its failure to “develop a written policy to ensure that all allegations of abuse, neglect… or bruises of unknown origin are investigated and reported to the Department of Public Health immediately. This has the potential to affect all of the eight residents living in the facility.”
The state investigator’s findings included a review of the facility’s March 2014 policy and procedure titled Abuse and Neglect Detection and Prevention… Identification that reads in part:
“Identify events, such as suspicious bruising of residents, occurrences, patterns and trends that may constitute abuse, and to determine the direction of the investigation will be conducted ongoing by Mission Partners (staff). It is the responsibility [of the facility] to report bonafide (actual, real or true) suspicions of neglect or abuse to the Administrator immediately […and] an initial report will be sent to the Department of Public Health… Within 24 hours of the report of alleged abuse.”
The state investigator noted that the current policy documents that all resident should be protected “from harm during the investigation”. However, the “policy fails to address or document how a resident will be protected during an investigation.”
Alton Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your loved one has been disrespected or stripped of their dignity while residing at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center, called the Alton elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC today at (888) 424-5757. Our Madison County nursing home attorneys can assist you in seeking the financial compensation your family deserves.
We accept all nursing home neglect claims for compensation, personal injury cases, and wrongful death lawsuits through contingency fee agreements to avoid the need for an upfront fee.
http://bit.do/RILnursingOSFAlton
http://bit.do/RILnursingOSFStAnth
