The Emerald Peek: Nursing Home Cited for Medication Errors

The Emerald Peek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has received 40 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on February 18, 2022. The Peekskill nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of six surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not adequately prevent medication errors. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must ensure residents are free of significant medication errors. A December 2021 citation found that The Emerald Peek failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes a resident who “did not have fingerstick blood sugar (FSBS) performed as ordered and subsequently did not receive insulin to lower elevated blood glucose level.” In an interview, one of the facility’s Nurse Practitioners said the resident in question was “difficult to manage due to contributing factors,” and that sustained high glucose levels can result in long-term complications. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the in-servicing of nurses on insulin administration.

2. The nursing home did not implement adequate infection control measures. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must establish and maintain a program to prevent and control infection within the facility. A December 2021 citation found that The Emerald Peek failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that facility staff did not perform appropriate wound care while treating two residents’ pressure ulcers. In an interview, one of the nurses who performed inadequate hygiene said they “just forgot about the handwashing during this treatment” despite having performed “plenty of dressings” in the past. In another interview, the facility’s Director of Nursing said “Infection Control is so important and hand hygiene is a basic skill all nurses need to know.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the educational counseling of relevant staff. 

3. The nursing home did not meet food safety standards. Under Section 483.60 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must store food “in accordance with professional standards for food service safety.” A December 2021 citation found that The Emerald Peek failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes a two food containers—an opened five-pound cheese package and an opened five-pound baloney package—in the facility’s refrigerator that were not properly dated. It also three boxes of frozen apple juice, as well as three boxes of frozen orange juice, that were “observed sitting on a cart in the kitchen at room temperature.” In an interview, the facility’s Food Service Director said that the nursing home’s dietary staff are responsible for checking the dates of food items that are delivered and dating foods when they are opened.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the disposal of identified items and the in-servicing of dietary staff on the proper handling of food and beverage items.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC work diligently to protect the rights of nursing home residents.  Please contact us to discuss in the event you have a potential case involving neglect or abuse.