One state’s department of health has ordered immediate changes at a nursing home and rehabilitation center for continued failures to track and treat bedsores (pressure sores, pressure ulcers, decubitus ulcers) and reposition patients. Records show one patient who required the technique every two hours to prevent bedsores was often neglected. The following chart shows the incidences of neglect:
|
Month |
Number of worker shifts |
|
|
May 2009 |
93 shifts |
Neglected 41 times |
|
June 2009 |
90 shifts |
Neglected 60 times |
|
July 2009 |
93 shifts |
Neglected 13 times |
|
August 2009 (inspection was mid-month) |
21 shifts |
Neglected 8 times |
The facility is now working with the state and released a statement to the local television news station, “Right now our focus is on our patients. We have made significant changes at the facility and will continue to work with all staff to ensure every patient is receiving the best possible care.”
Under the compliance order, the nursing home must now hire an independent consultant, contract with a patients safety organization, make the results of the report available and contact all patients. Health officials say this case shows the importance of annual inspections. For more, read the story.
________________________________________________________________
Robert W. Carter, Jr. is a
Virginia attorney whose law practice is dedicated to protecting the
rights of the victims of nursing home and assisted living neglect and
abuse in Richmond, Roanoke, Norfolk, Lynchburg,
Danville, Charlottesville, and across Virginia.
