Illinois nursing home regulatory agencies require private and state-run facilities to follow strict protocols when investigating and reporting any incident or allegation of abuse. These laws are designed to protect the victim from further physical, sexual, verbal, mental or emotional assault. Unfortunately, not all facilities and administrators follow these protocols and procedures, and instead, make an assumption on which allegations and incidences of abuse to investigate compared to those considered to be invalid or bogus. The elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC provide legal services to abused, injured or mistreated patients residing at Illinois nursing facilities including Good Samaritan Home.
Good Samaritan Home
This Center is a ‘for profit’ 203-certified-bed facility providing nursing cares and services to residents of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois. The Medicare/Medicaid-participating Nursing Home is located at:
2130 Harrison Street
Quincy, Il 62301
(217) 223-8717
Quincy Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
Families can visit Medicare.gov to obtain a historical list of all safety concerns, health violations, filed complaints and opened investigations of every facility nationwide. The information can be used to determine the level of health and hygiene care every community nursing home provides its residents.
Currently, Good Samaritan Home maintains an overall three out of five available star rating in the Medicare comparative analysis system. This includes five out of five stars for staffing concerns, three out of five stars for health inspections and one out of five stars for quality measures. The Adams County nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have found numerous safety concerns, violations and deficiencies at this nursing facility that include:
- Failure to Investigate and Report an Allegation or Incident Involving Abuse
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 08/20/2015, a complaint investigation was opened against the facility for its failure to "report an allegation of physical abuse to the State Agency.” The state investigator also noted the facility’s failure “to investigate this allegation.” The incident involved a resident at the facility diagnosed with dementia.
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after a review of a resident’s 08/15/2015 Morning Nurse's Notes documenting that the resident “alleged a large man (unidentified) had used an orange gait belt on [the resident] and pulled it too tight and her [the resident].” The resident also alleged, “that when the man stood [the resident] up, the man rubbed himself against [the resident] and touched [her] breasts.” The resident’s Nurse’s Notes also documents that the Administrator “was notified at the time the allegation was made.”
The state investigator interviewed the facility Administrator at 3:13 PM on 08/19/2015. The Administrator “was aware of the allegation of abuse made by [the resident] on 08/15/2015 [...and] stated the allegation had not been reported to the State Agency and [the Administrator] had not started an investigation into the allegation made by [the resident].” The Administrator “stated male staff do occasionally work [in the resident’s] living area.”
- Failure to Develop, Implement and Enforce Abuse Policies
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 08/20/2015, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility's failure to "follow the facility Abuse Policy for reporting and investigating allegations of physical abuse.” The investigator noted that the deficient practice of the Administrator failed to follow the facility’s 10/02/2014 Abuse Prevention Program Facility Policy that reads in part:
“Upon learning of a report of potential mistreatment, the administrator shall initiate an incident investigation and notify the State Agency immediately.”
- Failure to Provide Cares and Services That Prevent the Development of Pressure Sores or Allow Existing Pressure Sores to Heal
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 08/20/2015, a complaint investigation against the facility was opened for its failure to "apply physician ordered pressure relieving devices for [two residents] reviewed for pressure ulcers.”
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after a review of a resident’s 08/01/2015 Physician Order Sheet (POS) documenting that the resident had “a left heel pressure ulcer. The report also documents a 07/20/2015 order for ‘heel protectors when in bed or recliner, legs elevated’ for a diagnosis of healed pressure ulcer.” The investigator also noted that the resident’s 06/24/2015 Skin Risk Assessment documents that the resident “is at risk for pressure ulcers.”
An observation was made of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) providing the resident care in the morning of 08/19/2015 while transferring the resident “into a recliner.” The resident “was sitting up in the recliner [with] feet resting on the footrest… Wwearing nonskid socks.” At that time, “the resident was not wearing heel protectors” and legs were not elevated as per the physician’s orders.
Quincy Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your parent, grandparent or spouse has suffered injury or died prematurely while a patient at Good Samaritan Home, call Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC now. Our knowledgeable Quincy qualified attorneys have years of experience in handling cases that involve mistreatment, neglect, and abuse occurring in nursing facilities throughout Illinois.
We encourage you to contact our Adams County elder abuse law offices by calling 888 424-5757 today to schedule your free, extensive case review. No upfront fees are necessary because our law firm accepts every personal injury case, wrongful death lawsuit, and nursing home abuse/neglect claim for compensation through a contingency fee agreement.
Sources:
http://bit.do/RILnursing-Good-Samaritan-Home
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6003685FI08202015.PDF