Attorneys for Patients Mistreated at The Grove Evaston

The Grove of Evanston is a 124 bed nursing home located in Cook County, Illinois at:

The Grove of Evanston
500 Asbury St.
Evanston, IL 60202
Website: http://www.thegroveofevanston.com/

According to the information available in the state nursing home data files, its health care facilities and personnel are equipped to handle patients admitted for the following primary health related problems:

• Alzheimer Disease
• Circulatory System
• Neoplasms
• Endocrine/Metabolic
• Genitourinary System Disorders
• Blood Disorders
• Respiratory System
• Digestive System
• Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
• Nervous System Related Issues

Unprofessional Discoveries about the Patient Care at The Grove of Evanston

Surveys conducted by the Illinois Department of Health and other professional inspection agencies, noted that there were some irregularities in the handling of patients during their stay at The Grove of Evanston. The nature of this health care irregularities received by some patients, can be construed as nursing home negligence. Some of the irregularities include:

• Failure to use appropriate equipment during resident transfer: “Per R3’s incident report dated 7/14/12, at 10:45AM, while R3 was being transferred from a shower chair to the wheelchair, R3’s right leg gave way and became limp. R3’s report also indicated that a sit-to-stand lifter was used during this incident. E5 said that if she saw staff trying to transfer R3, she would have encouraged the use of the mechanical lifter instead. R3’s 7/14/12 X-ray of the Right Knee indicated a fracture of the right proximal fibula and a hairline fracture of the right proximal tibia. R3 was sent out to the hospital and come back on 7/16/12 with a long leg circular cast.”

• Failure to provide effective pain management: “R1’s medications include 1.5mg Patch, apply topically behind the ear every three days, with alternate sites. When R1 was observed while sitting in front of the nurse’s station later that day, 1:00 PM, R1 did not have the patch in place. R1 continued to have an occasional rattling cough. On 01/19/12 at 2:45 PM, R1 was observed sitting again in front of the nurse’s station and the Patch was not behind either ear. E19, Nurse was asked about this. E19 said, “It was replaced yesterday.” On 01/20/12 at 9:45 AM, R1 was resting in bed and the Patch was not in place. E19 pointed out that the patch was on the floor and E19 stated that it fell off. E19 also stated, “I’m going to have to come up with a plan to keep the patch in place.”

• Failure to deliver the prescribed amount of formula to residents with feeding tubes: “On 3/01/2011 between 10:45am and 11am, the surveyor observed R22 and R23 with a tube feeding set up. R23 had Diabetisource formula handing at the time the container had a maximum amount of 1000cc of formula. The surveyor noted there was still 1000cc in the bottle. The dated labeled on the container was 2/28/2011 at 8pm, with a rate of 85cc per hour. It appeared as if no formula had been delivered to the resident.”

• Failure to address repeated falls: “On 03/02/11, during a review of incident reports (reportable and non-reportable) from January 2010 until present, seven incidents of unwitnessed falls involving R15 was found. R15 had seven fall incidents within a three month period of time with one resulting in a head injury (12/24/10). Then six days later R15 fell again. R15’s current care plan depicts problems of cognitive and memory deficits, unsteady gait, transfer deficit, hard of hearing, poor vision/cataract, and occasional incontinence of bowel and bladder. Although, falls are address in the plan beginning 11/06/10, it appears none of the interventions are working due to the continual episodes of unwitnessed falls.”

• Failure to prevent serious medication errors: “On 2-22-2012 my daughter called me and said she, (Z2/Family Member) had called (R1) and he was unable to give her a coherent response and is not making sense. I called (E4/LPN/Licensed Practical Nurse) and was told (R1) was ok and had been given his insulin, a little while ago. I tried to call (R1), he had no idea of who I was and wasn’t making sense. So I called back and told (E4) he, (R1’s) in distress, I need someone to see him now and I’m on my way over there. (Z2) called back and told (E4) something isn’t right, send someone to look at (R1). (Z2) is also a nurse. When I arrived at (Facility Name) (E5/LPN) was in the lobby. (E5) said she found (R1) in distress, he was sweaty, incoherent, and had no idea where he was. (E5) said she alerted the Director of Nursing, (E2), (Z1/Physician), and Administrator, (E1). I stayed all day at the facility and the Assistant Administrator spoke with me in the afternoon. What happened is (R1’s) Insulin was given at the wrong time. They gave (R1) insulin without food. This was the second time. It also happened on the 20th of February. (R1) told me this. No one went in to check on (R1), on 2-22-2012, until (E5) came in. (E4) was the same nurse on the 20th. who gave (R1) Insulin without food. December 15th. (R1) had a hypoglycemic incident, but it wasn’t due to Insulin without food. (E2/Director of Nursing) called on 2-27-2012 and apologized and said (E4) was reprimanded. E2, (Director of Nursing) and E1, (Administrator) provided the 2-29-2012 Resident/Visitor Incident Report and the untitled 2-27-2012 narrative of (R1’s) medication error, resulting in a hypoglycemic event on 2-22-2012, and the facilities’ one page narrative, Final Abuse Investigation of 3-2-2012. No interviews were provided, after three requests, with the Administrator, (E1), Director of Nursing, (E2), and  Assistant Director of Nursing, (E3), staff member’s statements or interviews could not be provided. The facility could not provide any further supporting documentation of R1’s 2-22-2012 Incident Investigation. E4, (LPN)’s 2-29-2012 Warning Notice is, “Termination. (E4 failed to check on (R1) when (Z3/Family Member) called in asking (E4) to please check on (R1). (E4) gave Insulin too early and (R1) had a hypoglycemic reaction.”

Experienced Nursing Home Attorneys Evanston, IL

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is a firm with the reputation of putting families first. Our team of experienced nursing home lawyers has brought the spark back to the eyes of many individuals and families who have had health care issues with different Medicare facilities. Most of the lawsuits we have successfully handled fall into the following situations:

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

Has Your Loved One been Victimized? Take the first step today.

Have you noticed any recent errant behavior from your loved one or episodes of poor patient care services from The Groove of Evanston and Rehabilitation Center? If yes, do not hesitate to contact our nursing home attorneys by calling (888) 424-5757. We are committed to helping you prove your case of negligence, in other to increase the quality of patient care services and facilities in Illinois.