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Bridgewater Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing suffered 26 confirmed and 15 presumed COVID-19 deaths as of February 4, 2021, according to state records. The facility has also received 41 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2020, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on February 12, 2020. The Binghamton 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 implement proper measures to prevent medication errors. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing homes are required to keep residents “free of any significant medication errors.” A June 2017 citation found that Bridgewater Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing failed to ensure such for three residents. In one case, the citation states, a resident’s orders for an antipsychotic medication “were not clarified when a change in dosage was made.” In two other cases, residents who had orders for fingerstick and sliding scale insulin administration during mealtimes were not administered such according to meal times. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the in-servicing of nursing staff on medication policies and procedures.
2. The nursing home did not provide adequate treatment and services to prevent and heal pressure ulcers. Section 483.25 stipulates that nursing homes must provide residents with receive care and services to prevent the development of pressure ulcers, and to provide residents with pressure ulcers necessary treatment and services to promote healing and prevent infection. A June 2017 citation found that Bridgewater Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that a resident who was documented at risk for pressure ulcer development, and who used a pressure-reducing device in their chair and bed, had no documented evidence that they were provided with off-loading boots per their care instructions, and ultimately developed a pressure ulcer on their left heel. In a pair of interviews, a nurse at the facility stated that the resident had refused to wear the boots. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility include the in-servicing of nursing staff on the facility’s pressure ulcer policies and procedures.
3. The nursing home did not adequately ensure its residents’ drug regimens were free from unnecessary drugs. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing home facilities are required to maintain “each resident’s drug regimen… free from unnecessary drugs.” A June 2017 citation found that Bridgewater Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes two residents who were on antipsychotic medications with no documentation that the facility considered or implemented a gradual dose reduction. In an interview, one of the facility’s social workers said that one of the residents was discussed at a gradual dose reduction meeting, but she “did not think they changed the medication much, if at all,” and she was not aware of any documentation of the meeting. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the evaluation of both residents for possible GDRs by the facility’s Medical Director.
Helping Victims of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in New York
The New York Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Lawyers 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.
