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Both state and federal nursing home regulatory agencies require that every employee working at the facility pass a completed criminal search to ensure there is no history of abuse and mistreatment of residents. However, many facilities fail to follow the law, keep accurate records and conduct follow-up employee criminal searches when required. Unfortunately, the Chicago Indiana elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have represented many residents who have suffered abuse and neglect by caregivers who should have never been hired by the facility.
Lake County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Lake County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is an 117-certified bed Medicare/Medicaid-participating Government-owned and operated nursing facility providing services to residents of East Chicago and Lake County, Indiana. The facility is located at:
5025 McCook Ave.
East Chicago, Indiana 46312
(219) 397-0380
East Chicago Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
To ensure families are fully aware of the level of care provided in every nursing facility, the state, and federal government routinely update their nursing home database system to reflect the complete history of safety concerns, health violations, filed complaints and opened investigations. This information can be found on numerous websites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, Lake County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center maintains an overall one out of five available star rating in the national Medicare star rating summary comparative analysis system. This includes three out of five stars for quality measures and one out of five stars for both staffing issues and health inspections. Our East Chicago Indiana nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous complaints and safety concerns involving this facility that include:
- Failure to Develop, Implement and Enforce Policies of Prevent Abuse, Neglect or Mistreatment of Residents
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 05/01/2015, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility's failure to "follow their Abuse Policy related to attaining the results of criminal background checks completed by the State of Indiana for [an employee at the facility].”
The state investigator reviewed the facility’s employee files on 05/01/2015. At that time, it was noted that a Licensed Practical Nurse was hired on 12/15/2014 after a “statewide criminal search was requested on 12/08/2014. The results section of the form indicated waiting for a reply. No completed criminal search was documented” as required by state and federal laws.
- Failure to Notify the Resident, the Resident’s Physician or Responsible Family Member of a Change in the Resident’s Condition Including a Decline in Their Health or Injury
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 05/01/2015, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to properly notify the physician after the resident refused treatment.” The deficient practice by the nursing staff at Lake County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center involved an interview with the resident at 1:15 PM on 04/30/2015 who indicated “he was prescribed an anti-anxiety medication after feeling short of breath. He further indicated that his nurse thought he was having an anxiety attack, however, he did not feel as if he was having [an attack], but suffered [from some other medical condition].”
After given the initial dose of anti-anxiety medication on 03/15/2015, the resident said that the medication “made him sleepy and he slept until noon.” As a result, the resident told his nurse “he no longer wanted to take the medication, but the staff continues to slip the pill in with his other medications.”
The state investigator conducted an interview with the facility’s Assistant Director of Nursing at 11:03 AM on 05/01/2015 who indicated that “a resident has the right to refuse treatment. She also indicated when a resident refuses a medication the physician should be notified promptly and the resident’s medication should have been discontinued [on the date the resident refused further treatment] when he initially reported to his nurse he no longer wanted to take the medication.”
In a separate summary statement of deficiencies dated 01/20/2016, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to ensure the physician was notified of a decreased oral consumption and lack of accurately monitoring the resident’s hydration.” However, the state investigator noted that “there was no accurate and complete recording of total measurements of the resident’s oral fluid intake. There was no intake or output recorded during December 2015” as required by the resident’s doctor in the Physician Order Sheet (POS).
East Chicago Indiana Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your loved one has suffered abuse or mistreatment while residing at any nursing facility, including Lake County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC can assist you in taking immediate legal action against all parties involved. Our East Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys can handle your compensation case to ensure you receive the financial recompense your family deserves for the harm your loved one has endured.
Contact our Lake County elder abuse law firm today by calling (888) 424-5757 to schedule a no obligation, free full case evaluation to discuss your case. We accept all personal injury cases, wrongful death lawsuits, and nursing home abuse claims for compensation through contingency fee agreements. This means we are only paid for our legal services after we have won your case at trial or negotiated an acceptable out of court financial settlement on your behalf.
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