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The spread of infection in a nursing facility could place the health and well-being of a resident, or potentially all residents, in immediate jeopardy. Because of that, the nursing staff is required by law to follow specific procedures and protocols to minimize the potential spread including routine washing of hands in accordance with handwashing guidelines. Unfortunately, the Rochelle elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have represented many residents in personal injury compensation cases who have suffered serious injuries and preventable infections due to the negligent actions of the nursing staff.
Rochelle Gardens Care Center is a for-profit 74-certified bed Petersen Health Care Network-affiliated nursing facility providing services to residents of Rochelle and Ogle County, Illinois. The Medicare/Medicaid-participating facility is located at:
1021 Caron Road
Rochelle, Illinois 61068
(815) 562-4047
In addition to providing their Pathways Rehabilitation Program, the facility also offers skilled nursing care and Alzheimer’s/memory care.
Rochelle Nursing Home Resident Safety ConcernsInformation about every nursing home in the United States is publicly available on numerous sites including Medicare.gov. The data includes a long history of opened investigations, filed complaints, health violations and safety concerns. Many families use this information to make a well-informed decision before placing a loved one in a nursing facility in their community.
Currently, Rochelle Gardens Care Center maintains an overall two out of five available star rating in the national star rating summary comparative analysis system. This includes five out of five stars for quality measures, three out of five stars for staffing issues and one out of five stars for health inspections. Our Rochelle nursing home neglect attorneys have found numerous complaints and safety concerns involving this facility that include:
- Failure to Develop, Implement and Enforce Policies That Investigates, Controls and Keeps Infection from Spreading
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 05/07/2015, a state surveyor made a notation during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility's failure to "wash their hands or change their gloves after handling a soiled incontinence brief to prevent cross contamination.” The deficient practice by the nursing staff at Rochelle Gardens Care Center directly affected one resident at the facility “reviewed for infection control.”
The failure the nursing staff was first documented at 2:45 PM on 05/05/2015 when a resident’s “incontinence brief was saturated with urine.” A Certified Nursing Assistant providing the resident care pulled down the resident’s “incontinence brief in between his legs and provided perineal care to the front.” Using the same washcloth, the Certified Nursing Assistant cleanse the resident’s buttocks then “set the saturated incontinence brief on [the resident’s] bed. A new incontinence brief was placed on [the resident] and he was repositioned in bed by [both certified nursing assistants in the room].”
The Certified Nursing Assistant was observed picking “up the saturated incontinence brief and pull the privacy curtain back. This is all done without changing her gloves or washing her hands.” The investigator interviewed the facility’s Director of Nursing at 9:20 AM on 05/06/2015 who stated that “staff is expected to wash hands before resident care, after peri-care is completed and before placing a clean incontinence brief or clothes on.” The investigator noted that the actions of the staff failed to follow the facility’s October 2015 Handwashing Policy that reads in part:
“Handwashing is to be done before and after resident contact and after contact with soiled or contaminated articles, such as, waste removal and articles that are contaminated with bodily fluid.”
- Failure to Provide Every Resident an Environment Free of Unnecessary and Unauthorized Physical Restraint
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 12/09/2013, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure to “ensure that residents with restraints had a physician’s order in place showing the medical symptom for the use of the restraint and the frequency of which the restraint should be used.” The investigator also noted the facility’s failure “to have a physical restraint reduction plan in place for each resident using the restraint [...and a failure] to get consents on the resident/POA for the use of the restraint.”
One failure involved a resident at the facility diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson’s disease who had a Physician Order Sheet (POS) for a “lap buddy when in a wheelchair and side rails up X2.” However, there was no order for a reclining wheelchair with the tray or a scoop mattress. Upon observation and 9:30 AM and 12/04/2015, the resident “was in bed with two full side rails up and a scoop-type mattress on the bed. At 11:10 AM on 12/05/2013, the resident was observed “in his room in his reclining wheelchair with a lap tray in place.” The investigator noted that the actions of the nursing staff failed to follow the facility’s policy titled: Restraint Reduction/Elimination Program.
If your loved one has suffered from abuse, neglect or mistreatment while residing in any Illinois nursing facility, including Rochelle Gardens Care Center, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can provide immediate legal assistance. Our Ogle County elder abuse attorneys have access to every necessary resource to successfully resolve your case.
We accept all personal injury claims for compensation through contingency fee agreements and are only paid for our services after we negotiate your out-of-court settlement or win your case at trial. contact our Rochelle Illinois nursing home abuse law firm at (888) 424-5757 today to schedule your free case review.
http://www.petersenhealthcare.net/rochelle-gardens/
