Attorneys for Patients Mistreated at Oakridge Healthcare Center

The Oakridge Healthcare Center, which provides a 58 bed space nursing facilities to the elderly members of Illinois, is located at:

Oakridge Healthcare Center
323 Oakridge Avenue
Hillside, IL 60162

Data from the state nursing home shows that the patients admitted into the Oakridge Healthcare Center are taken in for independent care and supervision due to the following health related situations:

• Developmental Disability
• Alzheimer Disease
• Circulatory System
• Respiratory System
• Genitourinary System Disorders
• Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
• Mental Illness
• Neoplasms

Disquieting Discoveries Regarding Patient Care at Oakridge Healthcare Center

Data gotten from the surveys conducted by the Illinois Department of Health and other inspection agencies including ProPublica, show that some patients were victims to negligence, patient abuse and repeated falls while been admitted at the Oakridge Healthcare Center. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC, we reviewed the survey data from ProPublica and found the following situation that can be construed as Nursing Home Negligence:

• Failure to respond to door alarms: “On 12/22/10 between 9:40 a.m. to 10:39 a.m. during the environmental tour with E5 (Maintenance Director), the exit door adjacent to resident room [ROOM NUMBER] was opened and the alarm sounded. No staff responded to the door. E5 and surveyor waited 5 minutes when surveyor went into room [ROOM NUMBER] where E2 (director of nursing) and E4 (nurse aide) were giving care to R3. Surveyor asked if they could hear the alarm, which was very loud and E2 stated “yes, but we are giving care”. Neither staff member came out to check the alarm or the outside perimeter. On 12/22/10 at 3:30 p.m., E1 (administrator) stated that E2 should have known better and stated she explained to E2 that the exit door alarms are more serious than giving care.”

• Failure to provide working call lights in residents’ bathrooms: “In the Men’s and Women’s Common Bathrooms on the Gardenview unit, across from rooms 18 and 17, were noted not to have call lights outside the room. E5 stated that the call lights do illuminate at the nurses’ central call board located at the nurses’ station but there is none outside the room.”

• Failure to address repeated falls: “R2’s last care plan for falls was initiated upon admission to the facility. No current care plan was available in the resident’s medical record or from the facility administration. During an interview with the administrator(E1) at 11:15 AM , ON 7/13/11 , she stated that although there was no recent care plan for falls in R2’s medical record, there was one for potential for injury(5/9/11), which she felt covered all potential injuries, including falls . She acknowledged that the potential for injury didn’t specifically state, that it was related to falls. Review of facility incident reports indicated that R2 had 4 additional falls after 5/9/11, which includes falls on 5/12/11, 6/6/11, 6/26/11 and 6/29/11. E1, during the above mentioned interview, admitted that she did not review or revise R2’s care plan following these fall incidents.”

• Failure to prevent abuse by properly screening employees: “Review of personnel file of E4 (Licensed Practical Nurse), she has been employed at the facility since 4/1/11. E4 was working at the facility on 11/4/11 on the Main Street wing. Review of E4’s personnel file on 11/4/11 at approximately 3:30 PM revealed E4 had a prior felony conviction. On 11/4/11 at 3:45 PM, E2 (Director of Nurses) was asked if she conducted the license checks on the newly hired licensed personnel. E2 stated she did not, that E7 (Administrative Assistant) completed this. On 11/4/11 at 3:50 PM, E7 stated she did not complete the license checks for newly hired licensed personnel. E7 stated that E2 completed it. On 11/4/11 at 4:15 PM, E1 and E2 stated they were not aware that E4 had a previous felony conviction. E1 stated that she had not hired E4. E1 stated that E8 (previous Director of Nurses) had hired E4. E8 is no longer employed at the facility. E1 and E2 stated they were not aware that the license checks were not being completed for the licensed personnel. E1 stated these probably had not been completed since February/2011, as this is when E8 supposedly took over the process. E1 and E2 stated there currently was no policy and procedure in place for the application process for licensed personnel. E1 also stated there was no policy and procedure in place for screening employees with previous felony convictions or with use of drugs, as indicated on the questionnaire.”

Hillside, IL Veteran Nursing Home Attorneys

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC provide experienced, nursing home attorneys to the residents of Illinois, who have cause to believe that your loved one has been subjected to any form of abuse and neglect while been admitted into the Oakridge Healthcare Center or any other nursing home in Illinois. We provide our professional services to individuals who have experienced any of the following situations due to neglect:

• Bed Sores / Pressure Pores
• Repeated Falls
• Dropped Patients
• Fractures
• Medication Errors
• Inadequate Screening Policies
• Physical Abuse
• Patient Wandering
• Wrongful Death

Worried about Your loved one? Why not give our Experinced Attorneys a Call (888) 424-5757

The health of your loved ones should always come first and ensuring that other senior members of the Illinois society receive the professional nursing home services they require, is also your social responsibility. So why don’t you call us today for a free consultation if you are concerned about the health care conditions your loved one may be receiving at the Oakridge Healthcare Center or in any nursing home, for an in-depth consultation about your concerns.