Exposure to Clostridium difficile, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other highly contagious diseases has the potential of causing severe harm to all residents in an Illinois nursing facility. Because of that, the nursing staff must follow procedures and protocols to prevent the spread of infection. Unfortunately, many nursing homes fail to properly train their employees on how to safeguard against exposure to infections, viruses, and bacteria. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have represented residents who needlessly suffered from cross-contamination while residing at Illinois nursing facilities like OSF St. Joseph’s Medical Center.
OSF St. Joseph’s Medical Center
This Nursing Facility is a ‘for profit’ Home providing services to residents of Bloomington and McLean County, Illinois. The Level II Trauma Center Medicaid/Medicare-approved 12-certified-bed Center is located at:
2200 East Washington Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 662-3311
In addition to providing skilled nursing care, the facility also provides rehabilitation, hospice care, emergency services, cancer care, weight loss management, and advance care planning.
Bloomington Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
Detailed information on each nursing facility in the US can be reviewed on state and federal database sites including Medicare.gov. These government-operated regulatory agencies routinely update their list of filed complaints, opened investigations, health violations and safety concerns on nursing homes nationwide.
Currently, OSF St. Joseph’s Medical Center maintains an overall four out of five available star rating in the Medicare summary system compared to all other facilities in the United States. This includes five out of five stars for health inspections and one out of five stars for quality measures. The McLean County nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have viewed numerous violations, safety concerns and deficiencies at this nursing home including:
- Failure to Follow Procedures and Protocols That Prevent the Spread of Infection In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 03/22/2016, a notation by a state investigator referred to the facility’s failure to “prevent potential cross-contamination by failing to properly disinfect the multi-use blood glucose testing meter.”An observation was made of a Registered Nurse (RN) on the morning of 03/21/2016 who checked the resident’s “blood glucose using one of two multi-use blood glucose testing meters located in the Nurses’ Station. Then at 11:20 AM, [the RN] took the germicidal disposal towelette from the dispenser and wiped the blood glucose testing meter for 20 seconds and dispose the towelette into the wastebasket. The blood glucose testing meter was visibly dry within 30 seconds of cleaning the meter.” It was 30 seconds after cleaning the blood glucose meter that the Registered Nurse stated that the meter was ‘dry’.
11:30 AM that same day, the Registered Nurse “read the manufacturer’s instructions for the germicidal disposal towelette and stated ‘I should have wiped it (blood glucose testing meter) more vigorously and waited for a full minute’.” The state investigator noted that the actions of the nursing staff failed to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the facility’s 10/02/2015 policy titled: Disinfection – Non-Critical Patient Care Equipment that reads in part:
“Disinfect the patient care equipment… following the label safety precautions and directions for use. Make sure the non-critical item is exposed to the disinfectant for a length of time indicated on the product label. Studies have shown that at least one minute is needed for disinfected to be effective against pathogens.”
- Failure to Provide Cares to Protect against Cross-Contamination In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 02/03/2015, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure to “follow the Infection Control Program by failing to disinfect the blood glucose meter between resident uses, implement hand hygiene, and ensure the cleanliness of the resident supplies to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of infection. These failures affect two residents… reviewed for infection control practices.”One deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after reviewing a laboratory report dated 01/11/2015 documenting a resident’s stool as being “positive for Clostridium difficile (C. diff),” a highly contagious disease.
A Registered Nurse confirmed on the morning of 02/02/2015 that the resident “is in contact isolation for C. diff. When asked if [the resident] is symptomatic (loose stools) with the C. diff, the RN stated ‘yes’.”
An observation was made of the Registered Nurse on the morning of 02/02/2015 providing cares to the resident and using the blood glucometer meter without taking necessary preventative precautions. Instead, the Registered Nurse stated that she “wipe the blood glucose meter container of meter strips for ten seconds with bleach germicidal wipes prior to putting them away.” The manufacturer recommends that the use of a bleach germicidal wipe and to “use enough wipes to the treated surface to remain visibly wet for three minutes. Let air dry” to ensure the germicidal properties kill the contagious contaminants.
Bloomington Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your loved one has been harmed while residing at OSF St. Joseph’s Medical Center, call Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC now. Our Bloomington nursing home attorneys can represent your family in cases that involve neglect and mistreatment and will work on your behalf to ensure your loved one receives sufficient financial compensation for their damages.
We encourage you to contact our McLean County elder abuse law offices by calling (888) 424-5757 today to schedule your comprehensive case review at no charge. We accept every nursing home abuse and neglect claim for compensation through contingency fee arrangements.
Sources:
https://www.osfhealthcare.org/st-joseph/
http://bit.do/RILnursing-OSF-Saint-Joseph-Medical-Center
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6011407FI02032015.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6011407FI03222016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6011407FI01082014.PDF
