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By federal and state law, every nursing home must notify a resident’s physician of any change in their condition including a decline in their health or a new injury. This notification helps to ensure that the patient receives the immediate medical attention they need, which might include a transfer to the emergency room, additional pain medication or x-rays. However, not all nursing facilities follow protocols, which can be detrimental to the resident’s overall health. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC represent Illinois nursing home residents who have suffered harm at skilled nursing homes like Mount Vernon Health Care Center through the negligent care of the nursing staff.
Mount Vernon Health Care Center
This Nursing Home is a Medicaid-approved facility providing nursing services to residents of Mount Vernon and Jefferson County, Illinois. The 106-certified-bed ‘for profit’ Center is located at:
#5 Doctors Park
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
(618) 242-1064
As a part of the Peterson Health Care System, Mount Vernon Health Care Center provides skilled nursing care, memory care, Alzheimer’s/dementia care and the Peterson Pathways Rehabilitation Program.
Mount Vernon Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
The state of Illinois and the federal government routinely update their nursing home database system with complete details of all safety concerns, filed complaints, opened investigations and health violations. The search results can be viewed on numerous sites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, Mount Vernon Health Care Center maintains an overall three out of five available star rating in the Medicare star rating summary system compared to all other nursing homes nationwide. This includes three out of five stars for health inspections and two out of five stars for both staffing concerns and quality measures. The Jefferson County nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have found safety concerns, violations and deficiencies at this nursing facility that include:
- Failure to Notify Resident’s Physician of a Change in Their Condition Including a Decline in Their Health or Injury
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 04/19/2016, an Illinois state surveyor performed an annual licensure and certification survey, noting the facility’s failure to “notify the physician for eight days, for a resident who was persistently scratching his neck.”
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after reviewing a 03/29/2016 Physician Progress Note revealing that a resident “has a diagnosis of Shingles, with a rash over the right side of his face and posterior neck. The Assessment and Plan section of the Progress Note states ‘Shingles, continue acyclovir, restart clindamycin today for suspected secondary bacterial infection, slowly resolving per nursing staff, will follow. Dementia stable…”
The resident’s Nurse's Notes of 04/08/2016 and 04/10/2016… Note staff is encouraging [the resident] not to scratch.” However, during a 1:50 PM, 04/11/2016 observation, the resident “had an area on the right side of his neck that measured approximately 3.0 centimeters by 2.0 centimeters in an oblong shape, where the skin was not intact and bright red blood was present on [the resident’s] neck, blanket and wrist.” At that time, the resident “was wearing clear gloves on both hands [...and] finger nails were soiled with dark matter.”
The state investigator noted that the resident “had been scratching his neck with the shingles rash for 11 days before the doctor was notified on 04/12/2016 at 8:42 AM.”
- Failure to Provide Every Resident an Environment Free of Accident Hazards and Provide Adequate Supervision to Prevent an Injury
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 11/13/2015, a formal complaint against the facility was opened by a state investigator for its failure to “modify interventions timely after becoming aware of a fall incident.” The deficient practice involved a 96-year-old resident diagnosed with dementia and osteoarthritis.
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after reviewing a documented 11/10/2015 Nurses’ Notes indicating that the resident “was sent to the hospital emergency room at 9:45 AM.” The investigator reviewed the resident’s 11/10/2015 Resident Transfer Form indicating that the resident “was transferred due to abnormal lab results – increased Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine.” The 11/10/2015 Nursing Transfer/Discharge Assessment completed by a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) noted a “hematoma right forehead.”
The LPN stated that on the morning of 11/11/2015, family members of the resident were present and noted “a knot on [the resident’s] forehead and reported to [the LPN].” The nurse stated that “she was not aware of the knot prior to that time and had not been told of any falls or other incidences involving [the resident].”
Mount Vernon Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you and your family believe that your loved one was victimized by residents, employees, caregivers or visitors while a patient at Mount Vernon Health Care Center, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC today. Our Mount Vernon dedicated lawyers can provide numerous legal options on how to file and resolved claims for compensation against all those who caused your loved one’s harm, injury or premature death.
We urge you to contact our Jefferson County elder abuse law office today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule your free, no obligation comprehensive case review. We provide immediate legal representation without any upfront payment or fee because our legal services are paid only after we have successfully resolved your case in a court of law or through a negotiated out-of-court settlement.
Sources:
http://bit.do/RILnursing-Mount-Vernon-Health-Care-Center
http://www.petersenhealthcare.net/mt-vernon/
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6001531FIK04192016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6001531FA11132015.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6001531FIK03302015.PDF
