Elopement From Sikeston, Missouri Nursing Home Results In Resident Being Killed By Train - UPDATE
We discussed the tragic death of a resident of Hunter Acres Caring Center nursing home facility in Sikeston, Missouri in our previous blog.
The death of a seventy-one-year-old resident of the facility after being struck by a train has prompted the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to investigate the facility and how the the female resident was able to walk away from the facility undetected - creating a situation of "imminent jeopardy", one of the most serious violations that can be assessed by the DHSS.
Due to the ongoing investigation, representatives for the DHSS cannot discuss specifics of the situation, but Kit Wagar, a spokesman for the DHSS, acknowledged that it was their understanding that the victim was able to elope during the morning shift change. He said, "One of the things we're told that is unfortunate is that the woman left the facility during a shift change. And there's always a little bit of confusion at the facility as people are coming and going from work. And this was not noticed immediately and that's one of the reasons that there should be steps in place to account for that."
According to the Vice President for Operating Services at the facility, Bill Mitchell, the facility is equipped with both door alarms and magnetic locks and is very secure.
After the investigation, the DHSS will issue a report with the findings of its investigation. The state and federal governments will then determine what fines and/or other disciplinary actions, if any, the facility will be assessed in this situation. The facility is required by state regulation to resolve any care and safety violations found by the DHSS through a Plan of Correction.
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