Linden Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation received 16 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on September 3, 2021. The Brooklyn nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of two surveys by state inspectors. The violations they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home failed to adequately protect residents from infection. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing homes are required to create and maintain a program to prevent and control the development and transmission of disease. A January 2019 citation found that Linden Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the facility did not clean or adequately maintain certain areas in its laundry room. State inspectors observed “laundry bins in disrepair,” walls that were “chipped, dirty, in need of painting,” a dirty and clogged water drain, a floor in need of cleaning and sweeping, milk crates filled with dirty used mops, used employee coats and hats in the clean linen area, and overflowing garbage bins. In an interview, the facility’s Director of Housekeeping said that the facility had one housekeeper assigned to the area. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the education of laundry and housekeeping staffers.
2. The nursing home did not protect residents from unnecessary medication. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing home residents have the right to be free from the unnecessary use of psychotropic medication. A January 2019 citation found that Linden Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the facility prescribed a resident a psychotropic medication “without a psychiatric evaluation and with no evidence of behaviors to support ongoing use” of the medication. In an interview, the facility’s Medical Doctor said the resident had a history of the condition the medication was intended to treat, and that it was “possible he did not document in writing about monitoring of the antidepressant as he does not usually do this as he was under the impression that the psychiatrist would be monitoring the antidepressant.” He added that he did not remember when the resident last saw a psychiatrist. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the resident’s consultation with a psychiatrist and a gradual dose reduction of the medication.
3. The nursing home did not meet professional standards. Under Section 483.21 of the Federal Code, nursing homes are required to provide or arrange services that “meet professional standards of quality.” A January 2019 citation found that Linden Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that on several instances the facility’s nursing staff “did not inform the medical staff when a resident’s blood sugar levels were elevated and out of range.” In an interview, the facility’s Attending Physician said that “he is sometimes informed of the resident’s elevated blood sugar but he is not sure that it happens all the time.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the re-education of nursing staff.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC work diligently to protect the rights of nursing home residents. Please contact us to discuss in the event you have a potential case involving neglect or abuse.