Van Rensselaer Manor has received 27 citations for violations of public health code between 2016 and 2020, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on August 5, 2020. The facility also received a 2020 fine of $2,000 in connection to findings in a 2019 inspection that it violated unspecified health code provisions. The Troy 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 protect residents from abuse. Section 483.12 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing home residents have a “right to be freedom from abuse.” An October 2019 citation found that Van Rensselaer Manor failed to ensure such for two residents. The citation states specifically that the the facility failed to ensure that a resident with severe cognitive impairment “was free from sexual abuse when she was assaulted by” another resident with “moderately impaired cognition.” The citation states further that another resident “who was cognitively intact… was free from sexual abuse when she was assaulted” by another resident who was cognitively intact. A plan of correction implemented by the facility included the review and updating of the facility’s abuse and resident reporting policies, as well as the review of its sexuality policy.
2. The nursing home did not take adequate measures to prevent infection. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing home facilities must endeavor to prevent the development and transmission of diseases by creating and maintaining an infection control program. A December 2018 citation found that Van Rensselaer Manor failed to ensure such for four residents. The citation states specifically that for three of the residents, staff did not maintain during wound dressing changes; and for the fourth, staff did not maintain contact precautions for a resident’s wound that was infected “with an antibiotic resistant organism.” The citation goes on to state that the facility did not ensure the maintenance of infection control procedures during the administration of resident medications, in an instance when “a glucometer was returned to the medication cart without being cleansed after use,” and another instance in which a staffer did not perform proper hand-washing before or after obtaining a finger-stick blood draw. The citation states that these deficiencies had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
3. The nursing home did not follow food safety procedures. Section 483.60 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to store, prepare, and distribute food in compliance with professional standards. A December 2018 citation found that Van Rensselaer Manor failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the following appliance in its kitchen “were not functioning properly”: a three-bay sanitation sink, a thermometer, and a nourishment refrigerator and freezer. The citation states that these deficiencies had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
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.