Iowa Nursing Home Faces Federal Fine - Again
Fejervary Health Care Center, a nursing home facility located in Davenport, Iowa, faces yet another fine for its role in a recent patient death. The facility has had a history of problems and fines from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. The most recent fine was assessed in July 2009 in the amount of $6,000.
On June 12, 2009, a resident was admitted around Noon. The resident and spouse both advised the facility of the resident's recent history of falls. The facility identified the problem on the resident's Care Plan and listed interventions that included a bed alarm and body alarm.
Around 9 p.m., the resident attempted to get out of bed and the alarm sounded. Later, around 4:25 a.m. on June 13, 2009, the alarm sounded again. Responding facility employees found the resident on the floor in a puddle of urine. The first employee responding said that the resident fell head first but failed to tell the nurse that the resident had hit their head. After bandaging a small hand wound, the resident was asked if they were hurt and the resident responded "no". No one checked the resident's pupils or performed any neurological checks.
Around 9:20 a.m., the resident complained of hip pain and was given pain medication. Once again, the resident was not assessed.
Around 10 a.m., the resident "became restless and agitated, looking for cigarettes. The resident complained of having a headache above his/her right eye." Upon returning to the room, the resident was unresponsive and was taken to the hospital. The resident later died. The facility failed to inform the resident's physician about the fall.
Last year, the facility was fined $7,500 in connection to a missing resident, a resident who required additional monitoring due to inappropriate sexual behavior, and a resident who was left in a dark cafeteria waiting for breakfast for more than two hours.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at (888) 317-2525 or visit us on our website at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
