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Any spread of infection in an Illinois nursing facility could place every resident in immediate jeopardy. Because of that, the nursing staff is required to follow established procedures and protocols when assisting residents, especially when toileting. Sadly, the Peru Illinois elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have represented many residents who have needlessly suffered serious injury from the spread of infection caused by the reckless actions of their caregivers.
Heritage Health Peru
Heritage Health Peru is a 127-bed for-profit Medicare/Medicaid-approved facility providing nursing services to residents of Peru and LaSalle County, Illinois. The Center is located at:
1301 21st Street
Peru, IL 61354
(815) 223-4901
As a part of the Heritage Health Care System, Heritage Health Peru provides around-the-clock long-term and short-term skilled nursing care along with respiratory, occupational, physical and speech therapies, respite care and hospice care.
Peru Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
To ensure families are fully informed about every nursing facility’s status of providing quality medical care, Illinois and the federal government routinely update their nursing home database systems. This information reflects the historical records of all opened investigations, filed complaints, health violations and safety concerns on facilities nationwide. The results are uploaded on numerous sites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, Heritage Health Peru maintains an overall four out of five available star rating in the Medicare star rating summary system. This includes four out of five stars for staffing issues, three out of five stars for health inspections and two out of five stars for quality measures. Our Peru Illinois nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous safety concerns and deficiencies involving this facility that include:
- Failure to Follow Procedures and Protocols to Minimize the Potential Spread of Infection throughout the Facility
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 02/15/2016, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility's failure to "perform hand hygiene from after removing gloves during perineal care for a resident in isolation precautions for Clostridium difficile (C. diff).” The investigator noted the actions by the nursing staff at Heritage Health Peru failed to follow the facility’s revised 03/01/2010 Hand Hygiene Technique Policy that provides indications for handwashing for “known C. diff-positive diarrhea.”
The state investigator also noted The Failure to Follow the Facility’s 03/01/2010 Glove Use Policy that documents in part:
“Wash hands after removing gloves. Gloves do not replace hand washing.”
“Removing gloves… Wash hands.”
An observation was made of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) on the afternoon of 02/04/2016 who was performing perineal care for a resident. At that time, the CNA “applied gloves, cleansed and dried [the resident’s] anterior and posterior perineal areas, remove soiled gloves and applied clean gloves without performing hand hygiene.”
It was during this time that the Certified Nursing Assistant open the resident’s “closet drawer, removed an incontinence brief, put the brief on [the resident and put the resident’s] pants on, grabbed and placed [the resident’s] wheelchair next to the bed, removed the transfer belt from [the resident’s] waist… and during this time, also picked up the soil bag of linens from [the resident’s] bed and place the bag on the floor. The failure occurred because the Certified Nursing Assistant removed soiled gloves and applied clean gloves without performing hand hygiene “at any time during these cares.”
In a separate summary statement of deficiencies dated 04/01/2015, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to prevent cross-contamination during incontinence care for [a resident at the facility] reviewed for incontinence care.” The investigator noted the actions of the nursing staff failed to follow the facility’s 08/27/2012 policy titled Incontinence Care – Male and Female Policy that reads in part:
“Cleanse area well with soap and water… Rinse area well… Pat dry … Remove gloves and complete hand hygiene… Reposition resident for comfort…”
An observation was made of two certified nursing assistants on the afternoon of 03/30/2015 who “provided incontinence care to [a resident who] was lying in bed.” One Certified Nursing Assistant “submerged a washcloth into the basin of soap and water and washed [the resident’s] perineal area… Then placed the soiled washcloth back to the basin of soap and water, removed the second washcloth from the soiled contents in the basin and continued cleaning [the resident’s] perineal area [before repositioning the resident on their] right side.”
The investigator noted that at no time did the CNA “change gloves and perform hand hygiene after completing incontinence care on [the resident] prior to repositioning and covering [the resident] with a blanket.” During an interview with the facility’s Director of Nursing on the morning of 03/31/2015, it was revealed that the Director “expects facility staff to follow the facility’s Incontinence Care Policy when providing incontinence care residents.”
Peru Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you suspect your loved one has suffered from a preventable infection caused by the negligent action of caregivers while residing in any Illinois nursing facility, including Heritage Health Peru, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help. Our Illinois nursing home abuse attorneys can handle every aspect of your claim for financial compensation.
To ensure that your case is successfully resolved, contact our LaSalle County elder abuse law firm today by calling (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free, no-obligation case review. No upfront fees are required.
http://www.heritageofcare.com/peru.html
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6004303FIK02052016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6004303FIK02052016.PDF
