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October 17, 2018

The Illinois Department of Public Health April – June 2018 Quarterly Nursing Home Report

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) conduct routine inspections, investigations, and surveys of all nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and assisted-living facilities throughout the year across the state. The inspectors typically arrive at the facility unannounced to determine the level of care every resident is being provided and identify any violation of regulations as outlined by the Nursing Home Care Act. When surveyors find a deficiency or violation, federal and state nursing home regulators usually take quick action to enforce regulations and impose severe penalties in monetary fines.

The dedicated nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC remains committed to posting publicly available information so families can make a fully decision about where to place a loved one who requires the highest level of skilled nursing care. If you suspect that your loved one was abused, mistreated or neglected in an Illinois nursing home, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule a free, initial consultation with our experienced attorneys to discuss your legal options and rights. We provide every client a “No Win/No-Fee” Guarantee, meaning you pay us only when, and if, our law firm is successful in resolving your case.

The Public Health Department makes their findings publicly available online through Quarterly Nursing Home Reports. These reports include detailed descriptions of serious deficiencies, violations, and problems. During the second quarter of 2018, surveyors found numerous serious violations and deficiencies at the nursing homes listed below. Each of these nursing centers were cited for multiple Type A (severe violations) or Type AA (extreme violations) that resulted in fines that ranged from $25,000-$50,000. These nursing homes include:

October 3, 2018

College Football Players Blaming NCAA for Not Disclosing Head Trauma Risks

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

College sports teams are watching what happens next, now that former football players suffering brain damage have begun suing the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) for not warning players about the associated risks of concussions that appear to be inherent in the sport. Legal experts believe new cases will be setting a precedent on the responsibility the Association holds and any potential change that might be required for college football players.

The first case that went to trial in June 2018 involved a former Division I college football player’s widow Deb Hardin-Ploetz who filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million in damages against the NCAA in 2017. The plaintiff claims that the Association ignored the warning signs associated with repeated head trauma that likely caused her husband’s early demise and blames NCAA for negligence and wrongful death. Court filings show that the NCAA countered the plaintiff’s allegations by responding that her husband “voluntarily participated in the activity of playing football and accordingly assumed the risk of injury.”

While many concussion-related cases have been filed against the Association before, all of them had been dismissed, settled out of court, or put on hold while working out legal disputes. Finally, decades after the first cases were filed, there would be a case in court to show evidence to a jury that might find in in the plaintiff’s favor if they determined that the Association was at fault for the death of her husband Greg; whom played defensive tackle and linebacker positions for the University of Texas over five decades ago. Ploetz graduated from college in 1975 with a Master of Fine Arts Degree and went on to become a high school and college art teacher. However, his condition became so severe that he stopped teaching a decade ago and passed away from the long-term effects of his illness on March 11, 2015, at 66 years old.

September 27, 2018

How to Get Involved in the Fight Against Distracted Driving

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

It is impossible to operate any form of machinery while you do not commit your full attention to the task at hand. This includes when you get behind the wheel of a car or truck. Distracted driving is a factor in a majority of accidents, and the epidemic has grown worse with each passing year as we continue to come up with innovative ways of taking our attention off of the road. Phones, music players, tablets and other mobile devices allow us a portable way of remaining connected to each other, but drivers need to have the patience to wait until they arrive safely at their destination before reaching for these items.

The Staggering Statistics Behind Distracted Driving

We have all been guilty at some point of being tempted by some object in our vehicle that has diverted our focus from the road. Recent reports have revealed that every day in the United States, 660,000 drivers are using a cell phone. We see these people almost everywhere we go and may even become annoyed by their erratic or reckless driving. We may also find ourselves with the phone in hand on occasion.

September 20, 2018

Rockford Nursing Home Cited for Medication Errors & Patient Fall

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

Rockford, Illinois – The quarterly report released by the IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) in the fall of 2017 revealed that Forest City Rehab & Nursing Center was cited for multiple violations. The nursing facility is located at 321 Arnold Ave. in Rockford. The report revealed that the facility was fined $29,400 for one Type A violations and two Type B violations. Type A and AA violations are the most serious violations that could or did result in a resident’s death.

The violations were identified in two different state surveys conducted in June and July 2017. In a summary statement of deficiencies dated July 18, 2017, the state investigator noted that the “facility failed to administer medications in a manner to avoid a significant medication [mistake] that resulted in [the resident] receiving [four other residents’] opioid medications.”

A Horrific Medical Administering Mistake

June 24, 2018

Sewer Worker’s Death Investigated by OSHA

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

Streamwood, Illinois – A 22-year-old Gurnee construction worker Brett Morrow died while installing a fiberglass liner in a sewer pipe that prevents leaks. The worker was fatally injured after being hit by a large horizontal pipe that blocked access of others to help the victim. Immediately after the accident, the injured worker communicated with others at the scene but was found unresponsive by emergency responders when they arrived.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is investigating the incident that trapped the injured victim about 25 feet into the pipe, making it difficult for rescuers to reach him to provide care. The sewer pipe liner became crumpled and hardened, which blocked access to Morrow. Rescuers from the Streamwood Fired Department cut the liner apart to successfully pull the victim out almost four hours after arriving at the construction site.

The village’s Fire Chief Chris Clark stated that “we were certainly hopeful that he would be viable. We operated as if it would be a rescue the entire time. It wasn’t until we had him removed that we were able to determine he was deceased.” The Fire Chief said that “it took some time to cut the lining material away so that technicians could get to the patient. Then we were able to remove the patient. It is very challenging, because it’s a very small space to work in, and there was a lot of safety equipment.”

June 11, 2018

The Illinois Department of Public Health: October – December 2017 Quarterly Nursing Home Report

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) performs routine investigations and surveys on nursing facilities throughout the state. Their efforts help to identify any nursing facility, Rehabilitation Center or Assisted Living Home that has violated regulations according to the Nursing Home Care Act. When violations are identified, federal and state nursing home regulators can impose severe fines and penalties.

The Illinois Public Health Department publishes the data to inform the public Through a Released Quarterly Nursing Home Report. This publicly available information details inspections, investigations, and surveys. The current Nursing Homes and Rehabilitation Center throughout Illinois that were recently cited during the last quarter of 2017 are listed below. These facilities include those cited with Type A (severe violations) and Type AA (extreme violations) that resulted in fines that ranged from $12,500-$50,000. These facilities include:

Aperion Care Bloomington

May 17, 2018

Why Some Surgeries Are Inherently ‘Dangerous’

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

Every invasive surgical procedure brings with it some level of risk. However, complex surgeries are usually most at risk and considered inherently dangerous when involving anesthesia, bleeding issues, the potential for blood clots and the time it takes to heal completely. The drugs used in anesthesia often produce a lingering side effect on the patient’s brain that can last months or years after the procedure. A blood clot or bleeding problem can cause near instant death.

Most deaths that occur in hospitals are the result of emergency surgeries where significant complications arise during the procedure. Doctors performing routine open-heart surgeries, transplants, and brain surgery usually have days, weeks or months to prepare for the operation to minimize the potential of serious difficulties that could result in death. Each of the top five most inherently dangerous surgeries has its unique problems that include:

Open-Heart Surgery

April 10, 2018

Heavy Equipment Accident Highlights Excavation Site Dangers

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

Hobart, Indiana – A 62-year-old South Haven construction worker, Guy Holk, died in an evacuation site accident in Northwest Indiana on November 1, 2017, after being pinned against a wall by the bucket of an excavator. Hobart Police Department Lieutenant James Gonzalez stated that at approximately noon, emergency responders were called to the area of Pennsylvania Ave. And Lakeshore Drive where a construction crew was replacing sewer lines. When responders arrived, the victim was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the evacuation site at 1:38 PM by the Lake County coroner’s office.

The lieutenant explained that the “operator of the excavator was inside of the cab and turned to speak with the crew member on the ground. The operator of the excavator turned back to situate himself in the seat when a piece of his clothing caught a lever, which controlled the bucket on the excavator.” The lieutenant stated in a report that “the bucket, which was positioned inside the hole, moved forward and pinned the crew member against the wall.” A death investigation remains open.”

Workplace Safety Hazards

March 5, 2018

Auto Industry Seeks to Educate Public on Self-Driving Car Safety

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Google’s Alphabet Inc. recently launched an educational campaign to convince skeptics on the safety and value of driverless vehicles. The “Let’s Talk Self-Driving” campaign involves other groups including the National Safety Council, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and the Federation for Blind Children. The group hopes to show how self-driving cars, trucks, and vans could eradicate most vehicle deaths caused by drunk drivers and would provide wide-ranging transportation options for the blind.

The company began promoting self-driving pilot cars in Arizona to prove the safety of driverless vehicles in the hope of raising awareness on how advancements and technology can save lives. For months, the Company has operated autonomous minivans throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, focusing their attention on the city of Chandler. Recently, Waymo removed the human from behind the steering wheel. In the months ahead, passengers will be invited into the vehicles to travel about the town in a ride-hailing service without a driver.

The campaign hopes to respond to a lot of unanswered questions concerning the practicality of a driverless “Uber” type service. The company CEO John Krafcik stated that “full self-driving cars are here” now that Waymo is to the point where they can finally produce profits generated by robot chauffeurs. Krafcik says the company accomplished the feat of offering driverless vehicles because “we’ve built some unique safety features into this minivan. Our system runs thousands of checks on itself every second. With these checks, our systems can instantly diagnose any problems and pull over or come to a safe stop if needed.”

February 26, 2018

OSHA Reminds Employers of Loading Dock Safety

by Jonathan Rosenfeld

Complacency in a hazardous work environment can cause injuries and death when workers let down their guard or do not follow the rules. Working around the loading dock is one of the most dangerous workplaces in America.

Warehouse employees, dockworkers, and truck drivers are at significant risk of suffering debilitating injuries or wrongful death from shifting loads, pallet cargo tip-overs, falling, being crushed, exposure to loud noises and hazardous materials, and improper lifting practices.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration) regulates all loading and unloading activity occurring at plants, stores, shipyards, warehouse and other locations. The federal agency warns workers to remain cautious when preparing the trailer and dock for loading and unloading and how to properly use forklifts and equipment to load or remove cargo in the docking area.

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Personal Injury News & Developments

The Staggering Statistics Behind Distracted Driving

A Horrific Medical Administering Mistake

Open-Heart Surgery

Workplace Safety Hazards

Client Reviews