Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

Searcy Healthcare Center is a 245 bed nursing home facility located in Searcy, Arkansas. Searcy Healthcare Center's inspection deficiency record has exceeded the average number of health deficiencies in Arkansas three times in the past three years. Searcy Healthcare Center received twelve deficiencies in 2008, twenty-six deficiencies in 2007, and eighteen deficiencies in 2006. The average number of nursing home deficiencies in Arkansas is ten. Currently, Searcy Healthcare Center is rated as a one-star nursing home according to the new system instituted by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, which is indicative of a well below-average facility. Searcy Healthcare Center failed its residents to treat its residents with respect and dignity in both 2007 and 2008, according to state inspection records. In February 2007, the facility was cited for failing 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. One incident involved a resident whose family determined that an LPN had failed to provide a resident with food or medications and failed to notate in the narcotics log on multiple occasions that narcotics had been administered. This facility was also cited in 2007 for failing to write and use policies that forbid mistreatment, neglect, and abuse of residents and theft of residents' property. In March 2008, Searcy Healthcare Center was cited for failing to keep each resident free from physical restraints unless needed for medical treatments. Searcy Healthcare Center failed its residents when it did not to ensure Physical Restraint Informed Consent forms documented medical symptoms and specific target behaviors and did not utilize the least restrictive restraint for multiple residents. The facility also failed to ensure a restraint reduction was attempted for a resident and did not complete a pre-restraining evaluation for two residents. 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. Inspection reports also reveal that this facility failed its residents in quality care measures in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Searcy Healthcare Center failed its residents in May 2007 and July 2008 when it failed to ensure that residents needing assistance with activities of daily living were provided assistance. According to government inspection reports, the facility was also cited in June 2006 and May 2007 when it failed to ensure that residents entering the facility without a catheter are not given one. State inspectors determined that multiple residents had no assessment completed for a bowel and bladder training program. State inspectors also determined that Searcy Healthcare Center failed to provide the proper care for residents needing special services, such as injections, colostomys, tracheostomy care, and tracheal suctioning. Moreover, Searcy Healthcare Center used dirty equipment when it failed to ensure that the oxygen concentrator filters were in place and clean. The oxygen tubing was dated and the oxygen in use sign was posted for 6 residents who had physician orders for oxygen. The facility was also cited in May 2007 for failing to provide proper treatment to prevent new bed sores or heal existing bed sores when it failed to ensure that residents who were at risk for potential skin breakdown were turned and repositioned. It is important in nursing homes that the residents are provided with properly balanced meals so ensure good health. Good health and nutrition is vital for people in all stages of life. Searcy Healthcare Center failed its residents in 2006 and 2007 when it failed to offer food that is nutritional, appetizing, tasty, attractive, well-cooked, and at the right temperature. This facility was also cited three times in 2006 and 2007 for failing to store, cook, and give out food in a safe and clean way. Medication errors can be fatal to a nursing home resident. Nursing home residents are dependent upon staff to correctly and timely dispense medications. Searcy Healthcare Center failed its residents twice in 2008 when it failed to keep the rate of medication errors to less than 5%. A March 27, 2008 inspection revealed a medication error rate of 13.4%, which is astonishingly high. This facility also failed in 2006 and 2008 to ensure that residents who take drugs are not given too many doses for too long and failed to ensure that the use of drugs is watched carefully and to stop the drug usage if unwanted effects occur. A safe, clean, homelike environment is important for nursing home residents to thrive. Searcy Healthcare Center failed to ensure that the nursing home area is free of dangers that could cause accidents in eight times between 2006 and 2008, actually placing at least one resident in jeopardy twice during that time. The facility failed to ensure that five residents who were at risk for falls were assessed for causative factors for falls. Additionally, the facility did not develop interventions to prevent falls and implement them. Reportedly, one resident repeatedly fell, suffered a subdural hematoma, and eventually passed away. Additionally, the facility failed to ensure that the facility had a program to keep infection from spreading and failed to ensure that staff members washed their hands when needed. 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 see some of the surveys of Searcy Healthcare Center or to learn more about nursing home abuse and neglect, visit us at www.nursinghomejustice.com.