2009 Arkansas Nursing Home Report Card: Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation
Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation is a 142 bed nursing home facility located in Camden, Arkansas. Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation's inspection deficiency record has met or exceeded the average number of health deficiencies in Arkansas three times in the past three years. Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation received thirteen deficiencies in October 2008, thirteen deficiencies in January 2008, and ten deficiencies in 2007. The average number of nursing home deficiencies in Arkansas is ten. Currently, Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation is rated as a two-star nursing home according to the new system instituted by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, which is indicative of a below-average facility.
Nursing home residents deserve to be treated with respect. In fact, state and federal regulations require that facilities treat residents with dignity. Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation failed its residents in December 2005 when it failed to hire only people with no legal history of abusing, neglecting, or mistreating residents and to report and investigate acts or reports of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of residents. This facility was also cited in December 2005 for failing to write and use policies that forbid mistreatment, neglect, and abuse of residents and theft of residents' property. Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation also failed in January 2008 and October 2008 to keep each resident free from physical restraints unless needed for medical treatment.
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 in quality care measures consistently in the past three years, placing facility residents at risk for harm. Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation failed its residents in February 2007 and October 2008 when it failed to ensure that residents needing special services, such as tracheostomy care, respiratory care, tracheal suctioning, etc., were provided the proper care. In February 2007, the facility failed to ensure that residents entering the facility without a catheter were not catheterized. In some cases, nursing home facilities will catheterize a patient because it makes them easier to care for since there is no time expended in cleaning an incontinent resident. State and federal regulations specifically forbid this practice.
State inspectors also determined that Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation failed several times between 2006 and 2008 to provide assistance for residents who cannot care for themselves with eating, drinking, grooming, and hygiene. The facility failed to provide the proper treatment to prevent new bed sores or heal existing bed sores in January 2008. Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation was also cited in October 2008 for failing to give or get lab tests to meet the needs of residents.
Sometimes, because of their physical or mental infirmities, people forget that nursing home residtnts have designated rights. This facility was cited for violating resident rights in 2007, when the facility failed to immediately inform a resident's doctor or family member about an injury or change in medical condition.
Medication errors can be fatal to a nursing home resident. Nursing home residents are dependent upon staff to correctly and timely dispense medications. Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation failed its residents in this area. Nursing home facilities are required to keep their medication error rate to less than 5%. In February 2007, Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation's medication error rate was an astonishing 10.53%. Six months later, in August 2007, the facility's medication error rate had been reduced to 7.41%, which is still well over the 5% allowance by regulations. In August 2007 and October 2008, this facility also failed to ensure that residents taking medication were not given too many doses or for too long, failed to watch the use of drugs carefully, or stop or change drugs causing unwanted effects. Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation also failed to ensure that a licensed pharmacist checked the medication each resident is taking at least once a month.
A safe, clean, homelike environment is important for nursing home residents to thrive. Ouachita Nursing & Rehabilitation failed to ensure that the nursing home area is free of dangers that could cause accidents in multiple times between 2007 and 2008. The facility was cited in 2007 from failing to have a program to prevent infection and cited for failing to ensure staff members wash their hands as needed in 2008.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling nursing home cases of abuse or neglect. Please feel free to contact us at 1 (501) 663-2287 or toll-free at 1 (888) 317-2525. You may also visit our website at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
