Tennessee Injury Lawyer Blog
According to a recently filed lawsuit, Donelson Place Care and Rehabilitation Center put patients into immediate danger when the nursing staff failed to follow doctors’ orders to make sure that patients received breathing assistance from physician-prescribed devices. One patient had to be hospitalized and had to have a tube inserted into his trachea as a result of this failure.
During the May 19th through 22nd the nursing home received a revisit inspected where state surveyors cited Donelson Place Care and Rehabilitation Center for violations in the standards for administration, nursing services, social work services and resident rights. Their failure to pass this revisit survey last month resulted in punitive actions on June 4th of this year. These actions include a three thousand dollar fine and being put under a special monitor after a series of quality care failures. These problems began in December according data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
State Health Commissioner Dr. John Dreyzehner suspended new admissions because of a determination that conditions at the nursing home presented a detriment to the health, safety and welfare of residents. The Donelson nursing home did not take questions from The Tennessean and referred inquiries to Ben Adkins, media relations manager for Signature HealthCARE. Adkins stated that, “We are working through the issues and exploring all of our options. We have been in the process of making changes at Donelson. We are committed to continuous improvement at that facility.”
According to the Medicare’s nursing home compare website, Donelson Place Care and Rehabilitation Center has a one star or much below average rating.
If you are trying to decide on the best nursing home for your loved one, you should visit the Medicare Nursing Home compare website to see if the nursing homes you are considering have a good rating for their care and if they have enough beds for all the patients as well as a adequate number of staff per resident. Another step you should take is to visit the home before deciding on one. Do the residents seem happy and well cared for or are they left alone frequently and seem to be in pain? It is a good idea to talk with the nursing home staff about training procedures they have or what kinds of steps they take to prevent injuries or neglect. Once you decide on a home you like, one of the best things you can do to help prevent neglect or abuse from occurring is to visit your loved one often. You can check for bruises, cuts, sores or other physical scarring. It is a good idea to also notice whether or not your loved one seems distant or withdrawn. These can be signs of abuse or neglect.
When you have to make the tough decision to place your elderly loved one in a nursing home, you want to know that they will receive the best care possible. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are understaffed and the staff they do have are overworked. Also, many nursing homes fail to properly train their employees to handle the care that patients may need. If you suspect that your relative may have been the victim of malpractice while in the nursing home, you should talk to one of our experienced nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at the Higgins Firm. We care about our clients and will fight on your behalf to make sure you get the compensation you deserve for what you and your loved ones have been through.
If you seen these signs of abuse or neglect, you should speak to the nursing home right away about your concerns. If this does not seem to resolve the issue then you can speak to the state Department of Health. You should also contact one of our knowledgeable nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys with the Higgins Firm. We know how important your loved one’s health and safety is to you and we will do everything we can to insure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to and the party responsible is answers for their actions.
