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According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS), any facility-acquired pressure ulcer can be prevented as long as the nursing staff provides adequate cares and detects changes in the skin when they occur. Unfortunately, many nursing homes fail to adequately train and properly monitor the nursing staff to ensure that skin assessments are being performed in accordance with established protocols. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have legally represented many Illinois nursing home residents who have developed facility-acquired bedsores while residing at skilled nursing homes like Terrace on the Park.
Terrace on the Park
This Nursing Center is a Medicaid/Medicare-approved 55-bed Facility providing services to residents of Mascoutah and St. Clair County, Illinois. The ‘for profit’ Home is located at:
901 North Tenth Street
Mascoutah, IL 62258
(618) 566-2183
Mascoutah Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
Families can visit Medicare.gov to review a complete list of all filed complaints, safety concerns, health violations and opened investigations regularly updated by the state of Illinois and the federal government. This data can be used to make a well-informed decision of which nursing facilities in the community offer patients the highest level of care.
Currently, Terrace on the Park maintains an overall three out of five available star rating in the nationwide comparison analysis Medicare rating summary system. This includes four out of five stars for quality measures and three out of five stars for both health inspections and staffing concerns. The St. Clair County nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have viewed various deficiencies and safety concerns at this nursing home including:
- Failure to Provide Cares and Services to Prevent the Development of a Pressure Sore or Allow Existing Pressure Sores to Heal
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 12/17/2015, a notation was made by a state investigator concerning the facility's failure to "promptly notify a doctor, measure and assessed weekly wound status and [a failure to] obtain a physician’s orders for wound treatment.” The investigator noted, “that this failure resulted in [the resident’s] pressure ulcer requiring surgical debridement.”
The deficient practice was first noted in the state investigator’s findings after reviewing a resident’s Physician Order Sheet (POS) revealed diagnoses including “diabetic foot ulcer, diabetic retinopathy, and legally blind with the right above the knee amputation”. The resident was assessed of being “at high risk of developing pressure sores.” The cognitively intact resident requires “limit assistance of one-person physical assistance with bed mobility, transfers, ambulation, and toileting.”
The resident’s December 2015 Physician Order Sheet (POS) revealed that the resident “was readmitted to the facility in July 2015 after having an above the knee amputation of the right leg.” The resident’s 07/24/2015 Nurse’s Notes revealed that the patient “refused to get out of bed today and refused re-access weight. Unable to assess the area of stump and buttocks due to pain and [the resident] didn’t want to turn states: ‘too much pain’.”
The following day on 07/25/2015, the resident’s Nurse’s Notes revealed that the nurse is “able to complete skin assessment.” However, there was no documentation in the resident’s Nurses’ Notes for the left heel area noted. In addition, the resident’s 07/25/2015 Skin Assessment “does not document any sore areas on [the resident’s] left heel.”
By 07/20/2015 the resident’s Nurse’s Notes document that the resident’s wife talked to a Licensed Practical Nurse and stated “that she removed [the resident’s] sock and noticed the sock was wet and there was brown drainage from [the resident’s] left foot. Upon inspection, dry flaking skin noted from the left foot." The LPN stated that even though the resident did not complain of discomfort or pain, there was “decreased sensation to areas on the heel. The patient became tearful and stated ‘I can’t go through another amputation'.”
By 09/22/2015, the resident’s Nurse’s Notes documents “dressing to heal changed. Foul odor noted with a small amount of yellow-green drainage noted on the old dressing. Area cleansed with normal saline along with blackened tissues. Dressing changed as ordered.”
The investigator noted that reviewing the resident’s Weekly Other Skin Condition Report for 07/31/2015 and 08/07/2015 both “document a facility-acquired opened area to [the resident’s] left heel measuring 2.0 centimeters by 2.0 centimeters."
During an interview with the resident’s physician, it was revealed that “the facility did not contact him about [the resident’s] left heel pressure getting worse [...and] stated he wasn’t aware [the resident] was refusing treatment and not getting treatments as ordered.” The physician further stated that the resident “was a high risk for pressure ulcer and the facility should have known to keep an eye on his heel.”
Mascoutah Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you suspect your loved one was the victim of abuse or neglect while residing at Terrace on the Park, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers today. Our skillful Mascoutah attorneys provide legal representation in victim cases that involve abuse, neglect, and mistreatment that occurs in Illinois nursing homes.
Schedule a complimentary, no obligation comprehensive case evaluation today by calling our St. Clair County elder abuse law offices at (888) 424-5757. You are not required to make any upfront payment to receive immediate legal services. Our fees are paid only after we have successfully resolved your case by negotiating an out of court settlement on your behalf or by winning your case at trial.
Sources:
http://bit.do/RILnursing-Terrace-on-the-Park
http://www.idph.state.il.us/ltc/docs/SurveyResult/6003768FIK12172015.PDF
