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Due to mobility issues, the aging process and some medical conditions, many nursing home residents struggle with the development of pressure sores (pressure wounds; bedsores; pressure ulcers; decubitus ulcers). To prevent bedsores, the nursing staff is required to reposition many residents who are unable to turn their bodies without assistance in an effort to minimize pressure that restricts blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients. Unfortunately, the Belleville elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have represented many residents who have suffered life-threatening conditions caused by preventable bedsores due to the lack of negligent caregivers.
Memorial Care Center
Memorial Care Center is a nonprofit, 82-certified bed Medicare/Medicaid-approved nursing facility providing services to residents of Belleville and St. Clair County, Illinois. The facility is located at:
4315 Memorial Drive
Belleville, Illinois 62226
(618) 257-5060
In addition to offering skilled nursing care, Memorial Care Center also provides other services including physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapies
Belleville Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
Both the state of Illinois and the federal government routinely update their nursing home databases to reflect the entire history of safety concerns, health violations, filed complaints and opened investigations on facilities nationwide. The updated information can be found on numerous sites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, Memorial Care Center maintains an overall five out of five available star rating in the Medicare star rating summary system. This includes five out of five stars for health inspections and four out of five stars for both staffing issues and quality measures. However, our Belleville Illinois nursing home neglect attorneys have uncovered numerous investigations and safety concerns involving this facility that include:
- Failure to Provide Residents Proper Treatment to Prevent the Development of Pressure Sores or Allow Existing Pressure Sores to Heal
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 11/08/2013, a notation was made during an annual licensure and certification survey by a state investigator concerning the facility's failure to "ensure proper positioning for [one resident] reviewed for pressure sores.” The failure involved a resident who’s 11/06/2013 Integumentary Assessment revealed that the resident had “an unstageable pressure ulcer [measuring] 1.5 centimeters by 1.0 centimeter on the sacrum/coccyx.”
The investigator noted that the nursing staff had guidelines on handling the wound including “instructed and assisted to turn to side and position with pillows.” The resident’s 11/02/2015 Physician Order Sheet (POS) to “keep off sacral area.”
The investigator noted that upon observation of the resident at 2:15 PM on 11/06/2013 and again at 2:25 PM, the resident “was lying on his back with the head of the bed elevated.” The following day at 10:55 AM on 11/07/2013 the resident “was observed to be lying in bed on his back with the head of his bed elevated.”
During an interview with the resident, it was revealed that “he had been on his back for at least a half hour and stated his bottom was really hurting and he has a lot of pain [...and] stated he needed pain medication and to be repositioned.” During that time, a “Registered Nurse came into the room and [the resident] stated he was in pain and needed to be repositioned.”
- Failure to Develop, Implement, and Enforce Policies That Prevent the Spread of Infection throughout the Facility
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 12/19/2014, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to change soiled gloves after providing incontinence care, [and a failure] to adequately clean and disinfect multiuse medical equipment to prevent the spread of infection.” The failures affected three residents at the facility “reviewed for incontinent care and infection control practices.”
The surveyor observed a Certified Nursing Assistant at 9:42 AM on 12/17/2014 transferring a resident “to the toilet while wearing gloves. After [the resident] urinated, [the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)] used her left gloved hand to wipe [the resident’s] perineal area with toilet paper. While [the resident] was standing, [the CNA] use the soiled gloves to pull up [the resident’s] incontinent pad, elastic underwear and pants.”
The investigator noted that “without removing or changing gloves, [the CNA assisted the resident] to transfer back to the wheelchair, touching the gait belt, [the resident] and a wheelchair before removing the soiled gloves and washing her hands.” The investigator documented that the deficient practice by the nursing staff at Memorial Care Center failed to follow established procedures and protocols enforced by nursing home regulatory agencies and the facility’s January 2014 Infection Prevention, Standard Precautions (Body Substance Isolation) Policy that reads in part:
“[The CDC and OSHA] have recommended that all body fluids that may contain blood be treated as if they are potentially infectious. Guidelines. Hand Hygiene. When visibly dirty, after touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, or contaminated items; immediately after removing gloves; between patient contact.”
Belleville Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If your loved one has suffered a facility-acquired bedsore or preventable infection while residing at any Illinois nursing, including Memorial Care Center, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can assist you in obtaining financial compensation from all parties responsible for your harm. Our St. Clair County elder abuse lawyers have access to every resource necessary to successfully resolve your case.
Contact our Belleville Illinois nursing home abuse law firm of (888) 424-5757 today to schedule a no-obligation, free case consultation. All personal injury compensation claims are accepted on contingency to avoid upfront fees.
