Iowa Nursing Home Facing Federal and State Sanctions After Wrongful Death of Resident
Ridgecrest Village, a skilled nursing facility located in Davenport, Iowa is facing federal and state sanctions over injuries to residents requiring medical care and a resident's wrongful death following a fall.
Ridgecrest Village is not allowed to admit any new residents, is on a conditional status with the State of Iowa, and faces retroactive fines from the federal government to the tune of $400 per day back to the end of April, as well as state fines since the beginning of 2008 total more than $20,000. It is also possible that the facility could lose its Medicare and Medicaid funding.
Ridgecrest Village was fined $10,000 in March 2008 for a January death of a resident who fell out of a wheelchair. The resident was being wheeled in the chair by a staff member when the resident put a foot down. The result was the wheelchair came to a sudden halt and the resident fell to the floor and died the next day from the head injury. Also included in the fine was another resident's fall in November 2007 that resulted in a head laceration and broken hip.
Other instances of abuse include a resident who experienced improper care of a foot wound and constipation so severe hospitalization for a MRSA infection was required. Part of this resident's foot had to be amputated and there are still problems with the care for the incision. Another resident was hospitalized for dehydration after receiving very little food or drink for several days. Other problems reported are improper toilet care, inadequate pressure sore treatment, and cleanliness problems.
More problems became evident in May and June 2008. In May, a resident fell from a chair, resulting in a hip fracture that went undiagnosed for two days. Despite experiencing severe pain, the nursing home did not take the resident to the emergency room for two days. In June, another resident fell from a bed and suffered a head wound. The resident had a privately hired "sitter" who had spent the evening with the resident but left before staff members found the resident on the floor covered with blood.
