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The spread of infection is a serious problem in Illinois nursing facilities, where the nursing staff must follow specific procedures and protocols to eliminate exposure to bacteria, viruses, and other contagious diseases. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes provide a high level of training to the nursing staff or make available adequate staffing to ensure these proper procedures are followed at all times. As a result, many nursing home patients are exposed to highly contaminated diseases, which are often detrimental to their health and well-being. The elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers provide legal services to injured patients at Illinois nursing facilities including Oak Terrace Health Care Center who have suffered life altering changes to their medical condition due to negligent caregiving.
Oak Terrace Health Care Center
This Center is a ‘for profit’ Nursing Home providing nursing services to residents of Springfield and Sangamon County, Illinois. The 78-certified-bed Medicaid-participating Nursing Facility is located at:
1750 West Washington
Springfield, IL 62702
(217) 787-6466
In addition to providing short-term stay options, the facility also provides around-the-clock skilled nursing care and hospice care.
Springfield Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
The state of Illinois and the federal government regularly update their nursing home database systems with complete details of all health violations, filed complaints, safety concerns and opened investigations. The search results can be viewd on numerous sites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, Oak Terrace Health Care Center maintains an overall one out of five available star rating in the nationwide Medicare star rating summary comparison system. This includes one out of five stars for health inspections. The Sangamon County nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have found numerous safety concerns, violations and deficiencies at this nursing facility that include:
- Failure to Provide Cares and Services to Eliminate the Spread of Infection
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 08/25/2016, a formal complaint against the facility was opened by a state investigator for its failure to “adequately disinfect a multi-used blood glucose monitoring device and [a failure to] provide adequate hand hygiene and glove changing during incontinent care to prevent the spread of infection.” The deficient practices by the nursing staff affected five residents at the facility “reviewed for infection control practices.”
The failures were first noted in the state investigator’s findings after an observation was made of a Registered Nurse on the morning of 08/23/2016 who stated: “he was preparing to perform finger stick blood glucose monitoring on [the resident].” The Registered Nurse “wiped the glucometer with a bleach-free alcohol-free wipe for approximately three seconds and then let it set on top of the medication cart wrapped in a brown paper towel.” Seven minutes later, the Registered Nurse “took the glucometer and performed finger stick blood glucose monitoring on [the resident].” After the procedure, the Registered Nurse cleaned the glucometer in the same manner as described above and allowed the disinfectant to stay on the device for three seconds before setting it on the counter.
Less than twenty minutes later, the Registered Nurse “use the same glucometer performed finger stick blood glucose monitoring device on [another resident]”. After the procedure, the Registered Nurse cleaned the glucometer in the identical method and allowed the solution to remain on the device for two seconds before laying it on the counter.
The investigator interviewed the Registered Nurse at 12:05 PM on the same day where he stated: “he wipes the glucometer between resident use with the wipe and lets it sit for five minutes.” The Registered Nurse stated “as far as he knows there was no required length of time wiping the machine, just to let it dry for five minutes [...and] stated that the two residents “were the only residents [who require] blood glucose monitoring on the 100 Hall.
The facility’s Director of Nursing was interviewed by the state investigator the following morning. The Director stated that “she expects the nurses to clean the glucometer with wipes and let it dry before using it on the next resident.” The Facility Administrator was interviewed stated that “manufacturer’s instructions for the glucometer use during the blood sugar monitoring on [both resident’s] recommended to clean the meter [device] with a soft cloth wet with water and mild detergent and not use alcohol or another solvent.”
The facility’s undated Bleach-Free Alcohol-Free Wipes Instructions provide directions for use to disinfect the device against highly contagious diseases. The guidelines read in part:
“The disinfect against E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, salmonella, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, staphylococcus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus… allow the treated surface to remain wet for 10 minutes.”
Springfield Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you suspect your loved one has been abused or neglected while living at Oak Terrace Health Care Center, you must act quickly by calling the Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers law office to stop the mistreatment now. Let our skilled Springfield attorneys file and handle your financial compensation claim against all those who caused your loved one harm. Our years of experience ensures a successful resolution.
Schedule your free, no obligation comprehensive case evaluation today by calling our Sangamon County elder abuse law offices at (888) 424-5757. No upfront fees are required because we accept every nursing home abuse and neglect claim for compensation through contingency fee agreements.
Sources:
http://www.homelifeatoakterrace.com/
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6006811FIAD08252016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6006811FIA07122016.PDF
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6006811FA06022016.PDF
