Infection

May 23, 2022

Waters Edge Rehab & Nursing Center at Port Jefferson: Pressure Ulcer Citation

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Waters Edge Rehab & Nursing Center at Port Jefferson received a total of 22 citations between 2018 and 2022 as a direct result of six inspections by state surveyors.

Waters Edge Rehab & Nursing Center at Port Jefferson received 22 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on May 13, 2022. The Port Jefferson nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of six inspections by state surveyors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The citation did not effectively care for residents’ pressure ulcers. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must ensure residents receive a level of care adequate to prevent the avoidable development of pressure ulcers, and that residents with pressure ulcers receive care and services to promote both their healing and the development of additional ulcers. A February 2022 citation found that Waters Edge Rehab & Nursing Center at Port Jefferson failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes a resident with a pressure ulcer on their right heel for whom “facility staff did not consistently conduct weekly assessments.” In fact, the citation states, the resident was not referred to the facility’s wound care team “until 18 days after the PU [pressure ulcer] was first identified.” In an interview, the facility’s Director of Nursing Services said that “should have been seen by the wound care nurse as soon as possible on the day of the PU identification.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the counseling and education of two certified nursing assistants.

May 18, 2022

Westhampton Care Center Cited for Infection, Psychotropic Meds

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Westhampton Care Center received 17 citations for being in violation of public health code between 2018 and 2022 after a total of 4 inspections by state surveyors.

Westhampton Care Center received 17 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on May 13, 2022. The Westhampton nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of four inspections by state surveyors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not properly ensure the prevention and control of infection. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing homes “must establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.” A January 2022 citation found that Westhampton Care Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which a Licensed Practical Worse “did not wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when providing medications and checking blood sugar” for a resident on contact and droplet precautions. It goes on to state that the LPN “did not wear gloves while administering insulin” to the resident, and describes two separate instances in which staffers failed to wear proper PPE while tending to residents on contact and droplet precautions, in contravention of the facility’s Covid-19 policies. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the counseling of relevant staff.

May 10, 2022

Hilaire Rehab & Nursing: Infection, Psychotropic Drug Citations

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Hilaire Rehab & Nursing received 60 citations for being in violation of public health code between 2018 and 2022 after a total of 4 inspections by state surveyors.

Hilaire Rehab & Nursing received 60 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on May 6, 2022. The Huntington nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of four inspections by state surveyors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not undertake adequate infection control measures. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must endeavor to prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases by creating and maintaining an infection prevention and control program. A February 2022 citation found that Hilaire Rehab & Nursing failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which a licensed practical nurse placed a blood pressure cuff on three residents’ bare arms “without sanitizing the blood pressure cuff between the residents.” In an interview, the LPN “acknowledged [t]hat they… did not sanitize the blood pressure cuff between use” and further that “they should have sanitized the blood pressure cuff after each use.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the education of nurses on proper infection control procedures.

May 9, 2022

Sapphire Nursing and Rehab at Meadow Hill: Fall, Abuse Citations

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Sapphire Nursing at Meadow Hill has received 27 citations for being in violation of public health code between 2018 and 2022 after a total of 3 surveys were performed by state inspectors.

Sapphire Nursing at Meadow Hill received 27 citations for violations of public health code between between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 15, 2022. The Newburgh nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of three surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not prevent abuse. Section 483.12 of the Federal Code ensures nursing home residents “the right to be free from abuse.” An October 2020 citation found that Sapphire Nursing and Rehab at Meadow Hill failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes two residents, both with “severely impaired cognition,” who were not protected from abuse. One resident, according to the citation, was involved in an incident in which a certified nursing assistant pulled their wig off and hit her head with it, “then posting the video to social media.” In a second incident described by the citation, another resident was involved in an incident in which another CNA took a picture of them “and posted it on social media without the resident’s or representative’s consent.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the termination of both CNAs.

May 5, 2022

A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility: Overdose Citation

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility received 23 citations for being in violation of public health code between 2018 and 2022 after 10 inspections were performed by state surveyors.

A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility received 23 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 29, 2022. The Uniondale nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 10 inspections by state surveyors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not employ adequate measures to protect residents from accidents. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing home residents have the right to an environment “as free of accident hazards as is possible.” A March 2022 citation found that A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility failed to ensure such. The citation specifically states that a resident with a history of substance abuse “was not supervised to prevent the availability of non-prescribed illicit drug usage within the facility.” According to the citation, the resident was admitted with a known history of using and selling illicit drugs in their previous nursing home, but the facility nonetheless “did not develop care plan interventions to monitor and supervise the resident for substance abuse.” The resident was later discovered “unresponsive and transferred to hospital for opioid drug overdose.” The citation describes this deficiency as posing “immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.”

May 3, 2022

Apex Rehabilitation & Care Center Cited for Fall Prevention

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Apex Rehabilitation & Care Center received 15 citations for being in violation of public health code between 2018 and 2022 after a total of 3 surveys by state inspectors.

Apex Rehabilitation & Care Center received 15 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 29, 2022. The Uniondale nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 3 inspections by state surveyors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not effectively protect residents from accidents. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to ensure that resident environments are as free as possible of accident hazards. A February 2022 citation found that Apex Rehabilitation & Care Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which the facility did not move an ambulatory resident out of their room while “while there were repairs being made for an active leak,” additionally failing to put signage in place to inform the resident, who was at risk for falls, that the floor was wet. In an interview, a certified nursing aide acknowledged that the resident “could slip on the floor.” A housekeeper said in another interview that “they should have put a sign that indicated the floor was wet,” due to the risk that the resident could fall. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the educational counseling of staff assigned to the resident.

April 26, 2022

Highfield Gardens Care Center of Great Neck: Elopement Citation

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Highfield Gardens Care Center of Great Neck has received 15 citations for being in violation of public health code since 2018 after a total of 6 surveys by state inspectors found multiple deficiencies within the nursing home.

Highfield Gardens Care Center of Great Neck received 15 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 22, 2022. The Great Neck nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of six surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not employ adequate elopement-prevention measures. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must provide residents with adequate supervision to prevent accidents, including wandering and exit-seeking behaviors. A November 2021 citation found that Highfield Gardens Care Center of Great Neck failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which a resident with a known history of exit seeking behaviors “was able to pass two alarmed doors and successfully exit the facility’s ground,” eventually being located several blocks away from the nursing home. The citation describes the incident as having the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the in-servicing of staff on policies regarding residents with exit-seeking behaviors.

April 25, 2022

Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center Cited for Accidents

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center has received 25 citations for being in violation of public health code since 2018 after a total of 4 surveys by state inspectors discovered multiple deficiencies within the nursing home.

Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center received 25 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 15, 2022. The Glen Cove nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of four surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not adequately prevent accidents. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must provide residents with an environment as free as possible of accident hazards. A December 2019 citation found that Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an incident in which a resident with severe cognitive impairment “locked himself in his shared bathroom” for a period of 20 minutes, as facility staffers were “unable to open the bathroom door.” According to the citation, interviews subsequently revealed that “all staff members were not knowledgeable on how to open the doors in case a resident becomes locked in the bathroom.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the in-servicing of relevant staff on how to open locked bathroom doors.

April 20, 2022

Central Island Healthcare Cited for Psychotropic Medication Use

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Central Island Healthcare has received 29 citations for being in violation of public health code since 2018 after a total of four surveys by state inspectors found deficiencies within the facility.

Central Island Healthcare received 29 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 15, 2022. The Plainview nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of four surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not adequately protect residents from the unnecessary use of psychotropic medications. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes who have not used psychotropic medications should not be given them unless medically necessary. An August 2019 citation found that Central Island Healthcare failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes a resident who was started on an unspecified antipsychotic medication “without any documented evidence of the clinical need for the medication.” The citation goes on to state that the medication’s administration frequency was increased from once a day to twice at day at the request of the resident’s family, and that the dosage was doubled “due to a medication error entry.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the resident’s examination by a physician and a psychiatrist, after which the resident’s medication dosage was adjusted.

April 16, 2022

Sapphire Nursing and Rehab at Goshen Cited for Infection, Food Safety

by Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Sapphire Nursing and Rehab at Goshen has received 19 citations for being in violation of public health code since 2018 after multiple deficiencies were found during a total of 4 surveys by state inspectors.

Sapphire Nursing and Rehab at Goshen received 19 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 7, 2022. The Goshen nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of four surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not adequately protect residents from the unnecessary use of psychotropic medications. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must ensure resident drug regimens are free of unnecessary drugs, including psychotropic drugs. A December 2019 citation found that Sapphire Nursing and Rehab at Goshen failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that there was a lack of documentation indicating the continued use of an antipsychotic drug by one resident. In an interview, the facility’s Registered Nurse Manager stated that the resident “did not have behavior issues” and that “non-pharmacalogical interventions had not been implemented prior to the start” of the anti-psychotic drug regimen. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the review of the resident’s medical record and the implementation of a gradual dose reduction.