Tennessee Nursing Home Ordered to Halt New Admissions
The Tennessee State Department of Health ordered Pigeon Forge Care & Rehabilitation Center to halt all new admissions after a recent complaint investigation revealed violations of state standards in the areas of resident rights, performance improvement, and administration. Admissions into nursing home facilities are only halted when conditions could be harmful to the health, safety, or welfare of the facility's residents. As of May 26, 2009, the facility is forbidden to admit new residents until further notice and has been fined $3,000 by the State of Tennessee. The facility faces federal fines of $4,550 each day until the alleged violations are corrected.
In addition to the fines, a special administrator has been appointed to oversee facility operations.
Pigeon Forge Care & Rehabilitation Center has not been without problems in the past. A lawsuit was filed against the facility in September 2008 by the family of Lois Pierce. Her family alleges that nurses at Pigeon Forge failed to treat lesions on her body. The family allegedly complained to the facility Administrator more than ten times during her stay and eventually moved Ms. Pierce. She began treatment at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center, but, sadly, it was too late; Ms. Pierce died one week later.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us with questions or concerns at 1 (888) 317-2525 or visit us at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
