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Bug infestations are serious problems in long-term care centers where the spread of infection, contaminants or hazardous conditions can cause a significant decline in the resident’s overall condition. Unfortunately, not all Illinois care centers take appropriate measures during serious bug incidents to provide a safe environment, notify the resident’s guardian and ensure that the resident is receiving the highest level of care, per physician’s orders, after assessing and identifying any problem associated with the bug infestation.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represent individuals who have been mistreated at Illinois long-term care (LTC) centers like Douglas Terrace.
Douglas Terrace
This Nursing Home provides services to residents of Jacksonville and Morgan County, Illinois. The 16-certified-bed Nursing Facility is located at:
324 E. Douglas Ave.
Jacksonville, IL 62650
(217) 245-0818
Jacksonville Long Term Care Home Resident Safety Concerns
A list of dangerous hazards, health violations, safety concerns, incident inquiries, opened investigations, and filed complaints on statewide long-term care homes can be reviewed on database websites including the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH – ltc.dph.illinois.gov). The information is often used to determine the best facility to place a loved one who requires the highest level of hygiene assistance and medical care.
The Morgan County abuse and neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have reviewed numerous violations, safety concerns and deficiencies at this long-term care home including:
- Failure to Communicate with Clients, Parents, and Guardians over Incidents Including Serious Illnesses, Accidents, Abuse, Death or Unauthorized Absence
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 11/19/2015, the state investigator noted during a complaint investigation survey that the facility failed to “notify guardians for 11 residents concerning an internal pest infestation that require treatment from an outside contractor.” The state investigator reviewed the facility’s Bed Bug Procedural Guideline that revealed in part:
“Staff are to contact the Manager/Administrator/Executive Director [...and]
Notify a regulatory agency if required
Have exterminator verify problem and the extent
Attempt to identify source
In-service staff on universal precautions and infection control policies
Add to Quality Assurance Committee Report.”A comprehensive review was performed on the facility’s 10/05/2015 Local Pest Control Agency bill that noted a “detection of bed bugs in the requirement of treatment for all rooms in the residential facility." The documentation revealed that Bed Bug traps are on the beds to recognize that issue [...and] residents are encouraged to leave all personal items at home in order to prevent transportation of bedbugs to the day program [...and] are encouraged to shower immediately after returning home from the day program.”
The pest control agency recommended that the “staff inspect beds daily as they are cleaning rooms and making beds. If staff finds a bedbug bear to contact the Administrator, maintenance, pest control agency and guardians of the affected rooms."
An interview was conducted on the morning of 11/18/2015 with the facility’s Quality Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP) who “confirmed that the facility discovered bedbugs on 09/30/2015 and treatment was conducted and completed on 10/05/2015 facility wide." The QIDP also confirmed “that the entire facility was treated based on recommendations of the pest control agent [...and] that the guardians of [two residents] were notified of the occurrence of the bedbugs and treatment plans.”
However, the QIDP was “unable to provide any reproducible evidence of the conversations with [both resident’s guardians ...and] confirmed that the guardians for [nine other residents] were not contacted concerning the bedbug issue an action plan requiring the residents to follow new recommendations as outlined in the ‘Action Plan to address bed bugs’.”
In a separate part of the investigation, the facility was noted to have failed “to provide nursing services for 15 residents concerning nursing assessments after an internal pest infestation was discovered the required treatment from an outside contractor.” These failures involved residents with poor or moderate intellectual functioning, severe intellectual functioning, and profound intellectual functioning.
The investigator noted that “bedbugs were located in the room containing [two residents and that] the entire facility was treated based on recommendations of the pest control agent.” However, the facility confirmed that the registered nurse consultant for 15 residents “was not contacted concerning the bedbug issue and did not communicate with the clients’ physicians concerning bedbugs and any medical concerns or needed assessments for [these residents].”
The facility was reminded that they “must provide clients with nursing services in accordance with the needs” and “must notify promptly the client's parents or guardians of any significant incidents, or changes in the client’s condition…”
Jacksonville Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you have suspicions that your loved one was injured or harmed while residing at Douglas Terrace, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. Our knowledgeable Jacksonville attorneys can offer legal assistance on your behalf to ensure your case for financial compensation is successfully resolved against every party who caused your loved one harm.
We encourage you and your family to contact our Morgan County elder abuse law office today by calling (888) 424-5757 to schedule your appointment for a comprehensive case review at no charge. You are not required to pay any upfront fees or retainers because we accept all nursing home abuse and neglect cases through contingency fee arrangements. This means all payments for our legal fees are made only after we have successfully resolved your case in a jury trial or negotiated an out of court settlement on your behalf.
Sources:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6012389FIK09212016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6012389FA11192015.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6012389FA06092015.PDF
