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Elderly, disabled, recovering and infirmed residents in nursing facilities often require a high level of urinary catheter care to maintain or improve their health. Because of that, the nursing staff is required to follow the best practices and established protocols to minimize the potential of indwelling urinary catheter infections caused by contamination. Unfortunately, the Arthur elder abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have represented many residents who have suffered avoidable infections unnecessarily.
Urinary indwelling catheters are used for various reasons including to relieve chronic/acute retention of urine, instill medications directly into the resident’s bladder, accurately monitor the resident’s urine output, investigate the resident’s urinary tract or for urinary bladder irrigation. Sadly, many nursing homes use catheters as a convenience for the nursing staff to minimize the need for constant monitoring and attention, especially in overcrowded or understaffed facilities.
Studies show that the daily risk of catheterized residents in developing bacterial infections increase dramatically the longer the patient’s catheter is utilized. Any infection in the bladder can be extremely serious and ultimately lead to substantial morbidity and eventual mortality.
The Arthur Home
The Arthur Home is a 53-certified bed Medicare/Medicaid facility located in Arthur and Douglas and Moultrie Counties. The non-profit corporation is located at:
423 Eberhardt Drive
Arthur, Illinois 61911
(217) 543-2103
In addition to providing around-the-clock skilled nursing care, the Arthur Home also offers wound care, IV therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and post-surgical nursing care.
Arthur Nursing Home Resident Safety Concerns
In an effort to ensure that Illinois residents have a comprehensive understanding of the level of care provided at every nursing facility, the state and federal government nursing home regulatory agencies routinely update their nursing home database systems. The updated results can be found on numerous websites including Medicare.gov.
Currently, The Arthur Home maintains an overall five out of five available star rating in the national Medicare star rating summary system. This includes five out of five stars for quality measures, four out of five stars for health concerns and two out of five stars for staffing issues. However, the Arthur nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have found a serious safety concern involving this facility that includes:
- Failure to Provide Every Resident a Level of Care to Ensure They Do Not Develop Urinary Tract Infection and Instead Maintain Normal Bladder Function
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated 11/10/2015, a notation was made by a state investigator during an annual licensure and certification survey concerning the facility's failure to "maintain an indwelling urinary catheter drainage tubing off the floor for [a resident at the facility] reviewed for indwelling urinary catheters. The failure by the nursing staff at The Arthur Home involved a resident who “requires extensive assistance for staff for hygiene and mobility.”
The state investigator noted that at 10:45 AM on 11/09/2015, the resident was observed “seated in her wheelchair in her room [with her] indwelling urinary catheter tubing resting on the floor.” That same day 30 minutes later at 11:15 AM, the resident “was propelling herself in her wheelchair in the hall way and [her] urinary catheter tubing was dragging on the floor.” 35 minutes later a Certified Nurses’ Aide (CNA) propelled the resident “into the dining room and her urinary catheter tubing was dragging on the floor.”
Further observation of the resident that same day at 4:00 PM, the resident “was seated in her wheelchair in her room.” It was at that time that a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) was prompted to adjust the resident’s “catheter tubing so it did not rest on the floor and stated urinary catheter drainage tubing should not be on the floor.”
The following morning at 8:30 AM on 11/10/2015, the resident “was seated in her wheel chair in the dining room and [her] urinary catheter tubing was resting on the floor.” The Certified Nursing Assistant was prompted to adjust the resident’s “urinary catheter tubing so it did not rest on the floor.”
A review of the resident’s Care Plan that had been updated on 09/12/2015 directed the nursing staff to “keep [indwelling urinary catheter] tubing off the floor at all times.” The state investigator noted that the deficient practice by the nursing staff at The Arthur Home failed to follow established procedures and protocols enforced by state and federal nursing home regulatory agencies and the facility’s 04/03/2013 Urinary Catheter Care Policy that reads in part:
“Be sure the catheter tubing and drainage bag are kept off the floor.”
Arthur Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
If you believe your loved one has developed a urinary tract infection (UTI) that could have been avoided while residing in The Arthur Home or any Illinois nursing facility, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help. Our Arthur elder abuse attorneys can take appropriate immediate measures to protect your loved one’s rights and obtain the financial recompense they deserve.
To successfully resolve your financial compensation case, we encourage you to contact our Moultrie County nursing home abuse law offices today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We accept all nursing home abuse and neglect cases through contingency fee agreements to eliminate the need of any upfront payments. All information shared with our elder abuse law firm remains confidential.
