Articles Posted in Medication Errors

A nursing home in Arverne, New York has received 15 health code citations in the last four years.

Horizon Care Center has received 15 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on May 12, 2021. The Arverne nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of two surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not employ adequate accident-prevention measures. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must provide residents with an environment that remains as free as possible of accident hazards. An October 2019 citation found that Horizon Care Center failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that after a resident “used an aerosol deodorant spray towards a peer,” the spray “was not immediately removed… to prevent the potential for recurrence.” In an interview, the facility’s Director of Nursing Services said the facility didn’t have any policy concerning “potentially hazardous objects in the resident rooms,” and that upon consideration there was “potential for a future altercation with another resident.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the removal of the aerosol spray and its replacement with stick deodorant.

A nursing home in Rochester, New York has received citations for accident hazards and medication errors.

Kirkhaven has received 25 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on May 7, 2021. The Rochester nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of three surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following: Continue reading

A nursing home in Delmar, New York has been cited for infection control failures.

Delmar Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has received 81 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on May 7, 2021. The facility has additionally received two fines totaling $20,000 since 2013. The Delmar nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of six surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following: Continue reading

The nursing home in Valley Cottage, New York has received 49 citations since 2017.

Tolstoy Foundation Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has received 49 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to health records accessed on April 16, 2021. The Valley Cottage nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of two inspections by state surveyors. The violations they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not adequately protect residents from accident hazards. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must provide residents with an environment as free as possible of accident hazards and with adequate supervision to prevent accidents. A December 2019 citation found that Tolstoy Foundation Rehabilitation and Nursing Center failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that one resident who was observed smoking cigarettes outside the building’s rear entrance “did not have a safe smoking evaluation completed since admission” and that his “comprehensive care plan did not include safety measures for smoking including the use of cigarettes and lighters.” In an interview, the resident stated he had never been spoken to regarding the nursing home’s smoking policies. A Certified Nursing Assistant said in an interview that he was not aware where the resident kept his smoking materials, had never asked if the resident was allowed to smoke, and had never been directed regarding the resident’s smoking status. A Registered Nurse manager stated in a separate interview that she was not aware whether a smoking assessment had been or should be performed for the resident, nor “who was responsible for completing the smoking care plans.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included a safe smoking evaluation of all smoking residents.