Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers Home
Every incident involving an injury of unknown origin occurring in an Illinois long-term care facility must be immediately investigated and reported to appropriate state agencies in accordance with the law. Quick action and response help to protect the health and well-being of the resident and guard against any future potential mistreatment, neglect or abuse. Unfortunately, not all nursing facilities and long-term care centers follow these procedures and protocols which are often detrimental to the resident. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represent victims of abuse, mistreatment and neglect who reside in Illinois long-term care (LTC) homes like Hammond House.
Hammond House
This LTC Home is a ‘for profit’ Center providing services to residents of Chicago and Cook County, Illinois. The 15-certified-bed Long-Term Care Facility is located at:
6701 S. Morgan
Chicago, IL 60621
(773) 984-0733
Chicago LTC Home Resident Safety Concerns
Illinois routinely updates the government’s long-term care home database systems to reflect all safety concerns, health violations, dangerous hazards, filed complaints, opened investigations, and incident inquiries. This data can be found on numerous sites including the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH – ltc.dph.illinois.gov).
The Cook County neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have reviewed serious deficiencies and safety concerns at this long-term care (LTC) facility that include:
- Failure to Investigate and Report Any Injury of Unknown Origin As Required by State Law
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 03/03/2016, a state investigator noted that the facility failed to “ensure a thorough investigation was conducted regarding the swollen foot [of a resident].”
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after reviewing the Facility Incident Report that revealed that the resident “was taken to the emergency room at 07/12/2015 at 6:00 PM due to a swollen foot and complaint of pain to the foot.” The resident “was found to have fractures on the second through the fifth toes on the right foot.”
The state investigator conducted an interview with the facility’s Residential Service Director (RSD) during the early afternoon at 03/02/2016 “regarding the investigation of the 07/12/2015 injury of unknown origin.” The interview revealed that there was no investigation of the incident “because [the resident] told us what happened and [the resident] is dependable.” The RSD also stated that they “don’t know when [the resident] hit her foot [...and] don’t know what footwear [the resident] was wearing, normally [the resident] changes into house shoes.” The resident “only told staff of pain when the swelling was noted by the staff.”
The RSD was asked of “the extent of the swelling to [the resident’s] foot on 07/12/2015 [...and] validated that the information is unknown.” The state investigator noted that the actions of the administration and nursing staff at the Home failed to follow the facility’s revised August 2003 “Procedure on Staff Knowledge of Resident Abuse/Mistreatment” under Section 2 that reads in part:
“Unknown injuries… Investigate incident as soon as possible. Obtain statements from all staff and residents involved. Follow established procedures for all investigations.”
- Failure to Provide Physician Services in a Timely Manner As Required for Health Screenings and Healthcare after Injuries
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 03/03/2016, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to ensure preventative health screening was provided to [a resident].” The failure by the nursing staff involved a resident who “refused gynecological examinations on 09/30/2015 and 08/22/2014.”
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after interviewing a facility nurse who “was asked about the last completed gynecology exam for [the resident] on 03/02/2016 at approximately 12:00 PM.” The nurse stated that the Residential Service Director (RSD) would have to be asked.” The investigator interviewed the RSD the following morning concerning “the last completed gynecology exam for [the resident].” The Director “validated that after so many years, the files are purged from the record.”
A separate incident involved in an 83-year-old resident who “was transported to the emergency room on 09/04/2015 due to a fall that occurred on 09/04/2015 while exiting the bus at her home.” The investigator reviewed the hospital’s 09/04/2016 document “Patient Visit Information” the revealed the resident “is to follow up with her primary care physician [in] 1 to 2 days.”
The investigator interviewed the RSD just after noon on 03/01/2016 and 03/03/2016. The RSD “confirmed that [the resident] did not see her primary care physician until 09/14/2015 [or 10 days] after her fall on 09/04/2015.” The facility was reminded that they “must provide and obtain preventative and general medical care” for every resident in the facility in a timely manner and in accordance with physician’s orders.
Chicago Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you or your family suspect that your loved one was the victim of abuse, neglect or mistreatment by visitors, caregivers, employees or other residents while a resident at Hammond House, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers now. Our knowledgeable Chicago 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 urge you to contact our Cook County abuse law office today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule your free, no-obligation comprehensive recompense claim evaluation. 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://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6003990FIK03032016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6003990FDI05212015.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6003990FA03062015.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6003990FIK04032014.PDF
