Government Site Has New Way of Warning Families of Nursing Home Mistreatment and Neglect
The nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Levin & Perconti keep close eyes on how the federal government is using Nursing Home Compare, a website used by the public to search and compare facilities nationwide. In October, it was announced by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that the site has started flagging nursing homes with a history of resident mistreatment.
In a special report published by The Washington Post on November 19, 2019, the new flagging system which uses a red circle with a white hand inside, showcases as many as one in 20 elder-care facilities across the U.S. responsible for resident abuse or neglect. The data comes from government investigators’ reports which identified evidence related to the harm or potential harm of a resident.
Examples of Why Some Illinois Homes Were ‘Flagged’
According to the most recent inspection reports from the state, a few cases representing why Illinois homes are currently being flagged with the red icon on the Nursing Home Compare site, include:
- Accolade Healthcare of Pontiac: The facility failed to maintain oxygen and administration equipment to prevent cross-contamination. These failures have the potential to affect one of two residents reviewed for oxygen administration. View the latest inspection report here.
- Parkshore Estates Nursing & Rehab: Based on observation, interview and record review the facility failed to provide a safe environment free of loose medications; failed to ensure medications were properly secured and accessible only to authorized personnel; failed to ensure that facility keys are kept properly on staff to prevent potential accident hazard condition. These failures have the potential to affect all 61 residents on the 4th floor. View the latest inspection report here.
- Southpoint Nursing & Rehab Center: Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to follow the facility policy/Standards of infection control by failing to clean/disinfect glucose meters in between each resident use, dispose of soiled incontinence pads, use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), ensure proper storage and labeling of respiratory equipment, and perform hand hygiene. View the latest inspection report here.
- Winning Wheels: The facility failed to ensure resident safety during mechanical lift transfers and failed to keep medications in a controlled environment. View the latest inspection report here.
This is only a random sampling of Illinois homes that have been flagged as of November 2019. And, while many nursing home abuse and neglect prevention advocates welcome the new warning system, there remain many missed opportunities to help identify cases of abuse and worrisome neglect, leaving thousands of residents unprotected and left without the help they need.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys in Illinois
If you suspect an injury resulting from neglect or abuse at your loved one’s nursing home in Illinois, contact the attorneys of Levin & Perconti now at 1-877-374-1417, or by completing our online case evaluation form for a free consultation.
Also read: Negligence Led To 66-Year-Old’s Death in Chicago Nursing Home