Indiana Nursing Home Violates Federal Regulations
A complaint concerning quality of care at Royal Oaks Health Care and Rehabilitation prompted a January 2009 nursing home inspection, which revealed thirteen federal regulation violations. Fortunately, no residents suffered actual harm due to the facility's violations, but the facility must take immediate corrective action.
The individual who lodged the complaint against Royal Oaks alleged that there was insufficient staff-to-resident ratio and not enough staff to ensure resident safety at the facility. The complaintant who was transported to Union Hospital in January 2009 due to seriously infected bedsores that originated at the facility. The resident also had contracted sepsis, which is a serious body infection spread through the bloodstream.
The survey, ninety pages in all, seemed endless. Among other things, the facility was cited for failing to give residents proper treatment to prevent new bedsores or heal existing ones, failing to have a program to prevent the spread of infection, and failing to ensure nurse aides have the skills to care for the residents. Eleven out of eighteen CNAs observed providing care did not demonstrate to state investigators competent skills in handwashing, use of mechanical lifts, and handling of Foley catheters and urinary drainage tubing,. The facility was also cited for failing to "ensure a sanitary environment in that seven of seventeen CNAs observed providing care failed to remove gloves and/or wash their hands once contaminated."
Other areas where federal standards were not met included:
- Ensuring each resident entering the facility without a catheter does not receive one unless necessary;
- Ensuring that residents who cannot complete activities of daily living receive help with eating/drinking, grooming, and hygiene;
- Ensuring that the facility has enough nurses to care for the residents in a way to maximize the resident's well-being; and
- Ensuring the facility has the proper drugs and other similar products available, which are needed every day and in emergencies and give them out properly.
According to the new system instituted by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the facility is a one-star facility, which indicates a "much below average" facility.
