Minnesota Nursing Home in Spotlight Again
The Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea is in the spotlight again - and not in a good way. The Minnesota Department of Health has determined that the facility and a staff member were responsible for the neglect of a resident in November 2008. The facility was neglectful due to "lack of timeliness of assessment and the delay in physician notification and medical intervention" after the resident was injured. The employee was accused of being neglectful, which led to the injury.
On November 21, 2008 around 4:00 p.m., an elderly resident, who was dependent upon staff assistance for activities of daily living, was to be moved using a Sabina lift. The resident had suffered a stroke, was unable to communicate verbally, and suffered from both long and short term memory problems. According to her Care Plan, the resident was to wear shoes or grip socks when being transferred via the lift. At the time of movement, the resident was only wearing stockings and her feet slid from the base of the lift, causing her to fall onto her right hip. After she fell, the employee lowered her down into a cross-legged position and called for assistance. A nurse and two assistants raised the resident into a standing position and seated her on her bed. Staff did not inform a family member who visited shortly after the fall that the resident had fallen.
The staff questioned the resident about pain, which she denied by shaking her head "no" and the nurse did not complete an incident report. Later in the evening, as nursing assistants turned the resident to change her, she reacted as if in pain by grimacing, whimpering, and touching her right leg. When asked if she had pain, she shook her head "no" and the nurse did not do a further evaluation. The resident began vomiting around 8:30 p.m., which continued through the night.
The next morning, the resident complained of pain with movement and was transported to the emergency room around 9:00 a.m. Her family was informed that she was being transported due to the vomiting and the resident's physician was not informed of the fall until after a fracture was diagnosed. She was admitted to the hospital for surgery and returned to the facility on December 1.
Two employees were terminated due to the incident and the facility is appealing its citation the matter.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us with any questions at 1 (888) 317-2525 or visit us at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
