Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has received 91 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to records accessed on November 12, 2021. It was recently placed on the “Special Focus Facility” list maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Syracuse nursing home facility’s citations resulted from a total of 17 surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not employ adequate measures to prevent falls. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must provide residents with adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents. A September 2021 citation found that Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes a resident who “did not have a supervision plan in place to ensure safety during meals while receiving a mechanically altered diet.” The resident consequently “sustained several falls.” According to the citation, the nursing home did not thoroughly investigate the falls for the purpose of preventing further falls. The citation goes on to describe multiple instances during which the resident was eating in their room with no staff president, despite care instructions requiring supervision while eating. The citation describes these deficiencies as having the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the re-education of staff.
2. The nursing home did not adequately undertake infection prevention and control measures. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must create and uphold an infection prevention and control program to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and infections. A September 2021 citation found that Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the nursing home did not maintain an infection control program adequately designed to prevent the transmission of Covid-19. The citation specifically describes a Certified Nursing Aide who was “observed wearing their face mask below their nose for 3 days.” The CNA was observed wearing their mask thusly in a resident dining room “during a karaoke activity” and on other instances when around residents. In an interview, the CNA acknowledged that “they should wear their mask over their nose and mouth, including when assisting residents eating in the dining room, to prevent the transmission of germs,” but said they sometimes forgot to do so while eating and drinking. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the re-education and disciplining of the CNA in question.
3. The nursing home did not adequately control pests. Under Section 483.90 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must “Maintain an effective pest control program so that the facility is free of pests and rodents.” A September 2021 citation found that Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes findings of fruit flies and house flies in the facility’s main kitchen, its “Rainbow Room,” and in five resident units. In an interview, the facility’s Director “stated they were not aware of flies in the building.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the completion of pest control by an outside contractor.
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.
