April 2009 Arkansas Nursing Home Report Card: Batesville Healthcare Center
Batesville Healthcare Center is a 150 bed nursing home facility located in Batesville, Arkansas. Batesville Healthcare Center's inspection deficiency record has met or exceeded the average number of health deficiencies in Arkansas twice. Batesville Healthcare Center received ten deficiencies in 2009, twelve deficiencies in 2008, and four deficiencies in 2007. The average number of nursing home deficiencies in Arkansas is ten. Currently, Batesville Healthcare Center is rated as a one-star nursing home according to the new system instituted by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, which indicates a well below-average facility.
While all nursing home residents deserve professional services that meet a professional standard of quality and attain the highest possible quality of life for the resident, this facility failed its residents multiple times in the past three years, even placing the residents in immediate jeopardy in October 2007. An "Immediate Jeopardy" citation means that state investigators found circumstances in the facility were such that they could conclude that one or more residents were in immediate jeopardy of having their health or safety compromised. The public reports do not specifically identify the circumstances of this specific event, but in general, an "Immediate Jeopardy" citation is very serious and not to be taken lightly.
The State investigators also determined that Batesville Healthcare Center also failed to provide proper treatment for those needing special services, including injections, colostomy, uerostomy, ileostomy, tracheostomy care, tracheal suctioning, and prostheses in 2007 and 2009. Additionally, state investigators also determined that Batesville Healthcare Center also failed to ensure that residents unable to care for themselves are provided with assistance with activities of daily living in 2007. According to Medicare.gov, this facility failed to follow each resident's written care plan and provide activities to meet the needs of each resident in 2008.
It is important in nursing homes that the residents are provided with properly balanced meals to ensure good health. Good health and nutrition are vital for people in all stages of life, but arguably even more so for the elderly and infirm. Batesville Healthcare Center failed its residents in 2008 and 2009 when it failed to store, cook, and distribute food in a safe, clean way.
Pharmaceutical errors can be deadly to a nursing home resident. Batesville Healthcare Center failed to have drugs and other similar products which are needed every day and in emergencies on hand and distributed properly in 2007 and 2008. According to Medicare.gov Batesville also failed to ensure that residents taking medications were not given too many doses for too long or failed to stop or change medications causing unwanted effects. This facility also failed to ensure that residents were safe from serious medication errors in 2008 and 2009. Residents were placed in another "Immediate Jeopardy" situation in October 2007 when an inspection revealed that the facility did not have a licensed pharmacist checking the drugs that each resident was taking.
A safe, clean, homelike environment is important for nursing home residents to thrive. Batesville Healthcare Center failed to ensure that the nursing home area is free of dangers that could cause accidents four times between 2007 and 2009. A February 8, 2008 inspection revealed that the Batesville facility did not have a program in place to prevent infection from spreading. A January 14, 2009 inspection identified that the facility did not have firmly secured handrails on each side of hallways.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling nursing home cases of abuse or neglect and can be reached locally at (501) 663-2287 or toll-free at 1 (888) 317-2525. To learn more about nursing home abuse and neglect, visit us at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
