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Sexual assault occurring in Illinois nursing facilities is an all too common occurrence, even though the nursing staff is provided strict guidelines on procedures for handling, investigating and reporting incidences of resident-to-resident sexual assault. Any failure to handle an allegation or incident involving abuse could place the victim in a position where they are repeatedly assaulted. The elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have represented many Illinois nursing home patients who have been sexually assaulted by other residents and caregivers while residing at Illinois nursing facilities like Knox County Nursing Home.
Knox County Nursing Home
This Center is a 169-certified-bed Nursing Home providing services and cares to residents of Knoxville and Knox County, Illinois. The Medicare/Medicaid-participating ‘for profit’ Nursing Center is located at:
800 North Market Street
Knoxville, IL 61448
(309) 289-2338
In addition to providing skilled nursing care, Knox County Nursing Home also offers physical, speech and occupational therapy, bariatric care and outpatient treatments.
Knoxville Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
The state of Illinois and the federal government nursing home regulatory agencies routinely update the national nursing facility database system. The Medicare.gov information contains a detailed historical list of safety concerns, filed complaints, opened investigations and health violations of every facility in the United States.
Currently, Knox County Nursing Home maintains an overall five out of five available star rating in the nationwide Medicare star rating summary comparison analysis system. This includes five out of five stars for health inspections, four five stars for staffing concerns and three out of five stars for quality measures. The Knox County abuse and neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have many safety concerns, deficiencies, and violations at this facility that include:
- Failure to Follow Established Procedures and Protocols to Eliminate the Spread of Infection in the Facility
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 07/23/2015, a notation was made by a state investigator during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility's failure to "follow their policies to prevent cross-contamination during resident care.” The failures of the nursing staff involved for residents at the facility “reviewed for incontinence, wound and gastronomy tube (G-tube) care.”
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after an observation of two certified nursing assistants providing care to a resident on the morning of 07/22/2015. The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) “put on clean gloves, transferred [the resident] to the bed and began providing incontinence care.” One Certified Nursing Assistant removed the resident’s “soiled brief and cleanse [the resident’s] perineal area with three washcloths.”
At that time, the CNA then handed the other CNA “the soiled washcloths [who then] carried them to the sink area.” After providing perineal care to the resident and using a mechanical lift with the sling underneath the resident, the certified nursing assistants transfer the resident “from the bed to the chair by using the mechanical lift and adjusted [the resident’s] clothing.” The investigator noted that both Certified Nursing Assistants “performed all cares without changing their soiled gloves or performing hand hygiene.
The investigator noted that the actions by the Certified Nursing Assistant failed to follow the facility’s revised April 2012 policy titled: Handwashing/Hand Hygiene that reads in part:
“Hand washing: After coming in contact with the resident intact skin (e.g. lifting a resident); before and after assisting a resident with toileting; after contact with the resident’s excretions or bodily fluids; after handling soiled linens; and, before moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site.”
- Failure to Report and Investigate an Allegation or Incident Involving Abuse
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 06/12/2014, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure to “report and thoroughly investigate one abuse allegation” reviewed during the annual licensure and certification survey.
The state investigator reviewed a resident’s 06/04/2014 Nursing Progress Notes that documented that “it was reported to this nurse [that an employee] was inappropriate with a female resident.” When a Certified Nursing Aide “came through the door of the nursing area, [they saw a resident with their] right hand to the underneath side of a female resident’s shirt.” At that time, the resident said “No!” After the incident, the assaulted resident was removed from the area and the abusive resident apologized the female resident. The Administrator was notified.
In the afternoon of 06/11/2014, the Registered Nurse verified that the Administrator and Director of Nursing had been notified right away of the inappropriate behavior of the abusive resident and also notified the families of both residents of the incident. However, the Registered Nurse “did not document the incident in the assaulted resident’s records.
Knoxville Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your parent, grandparent or spouse has been injured or assaulted while residing at Knox County Nursing Home, call Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC now. Our Knoxville respected attorneys have represented clients who have been abused, mistreated or neglected by caregivers and other residents at their nursing facility.
We encourage you and your family to contact our Knox County elder abuse law office today by calling 888 424-5757 to schedule your appointment for a full comprehensive case review at no charge. There is no need to make an upfront payment because we accept all nursing home claims for compensation on contingency.
Sources:
http://www.knoxcountynursinghome.com/
http://bit.do/RILnursing-Knox-County-Nursing-Home
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6005060FI05192016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6005060FIK07232015.PDF
