Belair Care Center received 21 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on October 23, 2022. The North Bellmore nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of four surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not take adequate measures to prevent residents from being administered unnecessary psychotropic drugs. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to ensure that “Residents who have not used psychotropic drugs are not given these drugs unless the medication is necessary to treat a specific condition as diagnosed and documented in the clinical record.” A July 2022 citation found that Belair Care Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which a resident was administered an anti-anxiety education on an as-needed basis “with no documented evidence that non-pharmacological interventions were attempted prior to the administration” of the medication in question. The citation states further that the as-needed medication order “did not have a duration documented” for its use. In an interview, the facility’s Medical Director said that the order “should have only been for 14 days.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the review of the resident’s chart and the updating of the medication order to reflect the 14-day limit.
2. Belair Care Center was also cited for failing to prevent the unnecessary administration of psychotropic drugs in November 2019. In this instance, a resident was administered several psychotropic medications without the attempt of a gradual dose reduction as per facility policy. According to the citation, the facility’s Medical Director and the resident’s Psychiatrist stated that they did not attempt such because the resident’s family “insisted” on continuing the medication. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the initiation of a gradual dose reduction.
3. The nursing home did not employ adequate measures to control infection. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must help prevent the transmission of communicable diseases and infections by creating and upholding an infection control program. A December 2020 citation found that Belair Care Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which a Registered Nurse “was observed not wearing a gown” in the room of two residents who were on contact and droplet precautions. As the citation explains, facility policy and CDC guidance provdied for the use of personal protective equipment, including gowns, in the rooms of residents on contact and droplet precautions. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the disciplining and re-education of a registered nurse unit manager.
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.
