(914) 220-10862018-2022 Citation History
Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center received 130 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on September 2, 2022. The Campbell Hall nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 35 inspections by state surveyors. The violations they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not adequately protect residents from accident hazards. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to provide residents with environments as free as possible of accident hazards and with adequate staff supervision to prevent accidents. A November 2021 citation found that Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes one resident who suffered a fall, but for whom the nursing home did not provide an assessment or “adequate supervision and monitoring to maintain safety.” It similarly describes a second resident who suffered a fall, but for whom the nursing home “did not provide continued monitoring post fall.” In an interview, the facility’s Assistant Director of Nursing said that “a fall risk assessment and investigation was not completed and that they should have been completed.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the completion of investigations to rule out abuse and mistreatment.
2. The nursing home did not implement sufficient measures to ensure the prevention and control of infection. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to “establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.” An April 2022 citation found that Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes two certified nursing assistants who failed to perform hand hygiene during lunch service. One CNA was observed touching a chair, removing their jacket, placing a barrier pad on a chair, then sitting and assisting a resident with their meal without performing hand hygiene. The other CNA was similarly observed wheeling a second resident into the dining room, adjusting their chair, sitting down, and assisting the resident without performing hand hygiene. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the in-servicing of the CNAs regarding proper hand hygiene.
3. Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center was also cited for infection control lapses in a November 2021 citation. This citation describes one instance in which a nurse changing a resident’s wound dressing did not wash their hands between removing soiled gloves and donning new ones, “thus cross contaminating the wound and wound supplies.” It also describes an instance in which the same LPN was observed with no gloves on, without washing their hands, after disposing soiled linens. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the re-education of relevant staff on hand hygiene protocol and infection control practices.
2016-2020 Citation History
Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center received 48 citations for violations of the public health code between 2016 and 2020 according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on February 20, 2020.
The facility has also been the subject of a 2013 fine of $12,000 in connection to findings during a 2013 inspection that it violated health code provisions regarding accidents and resident assessments; a 2011 fine of $4,000 in connection to findings during a 2011 inspection that it violated health code provisions regarding accidents and administration; and a 2015 fine of $2,000 in connection to findings during a 2015 inspection that it violated health code provisions regarding the adequate maintenance of hydration. The Campbell Hall nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of five surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not adequately supervise its residents. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to provide a resident environment “as free of accident hazards as is possible” as well as “adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents.” A June 2019 citation found that Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center did not adequately supervise a resident’s smoking and use of oxygen. The citation states specifically that a smoking assessment was not completed before the resident was provided cigarettes, and that such an assessment would have identified “smoking safety/hazard risks and strengths,” and would have “initiated care plans with measurable goals and interventions” for the resident. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the education of nursing staff and a smoking assessment of the resident.
2. The nursing home did not take adequate measures to ensure the prevention and control of infection. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing homes “must establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment.” A June 2019 citation found that Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center did not establish and/or maintain such. The citation states specifically that the nursing home neglected to “develop a site-specific water management plan for testing for Legionella.” The citation goes on to state that the nursing home had no “sampling plan” established, and “did not obtain required water samples” to test for Legionella. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the contacting of its water system operator to take the necessary tests.
3. The nursing home did not provide residents with sufficient fluid. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code states that nursing homes must ensure that residents are “offered sufficient fluid intake to maintain proper hydration and health.” A July 2017 citation found that Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center did not implement necessary interventions to maintain one resident’s proper hydration. The citation states specifically that the resident’s care planning team “did not ensure that supplemental fluids prescribed by the physician were offered and monitored and the resident’s total daily fluid intake was reassessed to determine the resident’s hydration status.” In an interview, the facility’s Diet Technician did not offer “any explanation as to how she was monitoring the resident’s acceptance” of extra fluids ordered by the facility’s physician. The citation states that this deficiency had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center Nurse Arrested for Stealing Narcotics from Facility’s Pain Medication Supply
A supervising nurse at the Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center has been arrested for stealing narcotics from the emergency supply cabinet at the nursing home.
Terri Stephens-Traverse was the supervising nurse at the Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center in early 2013 when she began stealing oxycodone pills. The nursing home is located in Orange County in the Town of Hamptonburgh. As supervising nurse, Stephens-Traverse had unfettered access to the nursing home’s emergency pain medication supply. The nursing home kept a small supply of various medications for its elderly residents for use in emergencies and to help fill new pain medication prescriptions. Stephens-Traverse pilfered a large quantity of pills for personal use.
As supervising nurse, Stephens-Traverse was tasked with maintaining records regarding access to this supply. Stephens-Traverse was also assigned to monitoring the inflow and outflow of all medications. To avoid being caught, Stephens-Traverse lied on the log book and forged signatures of other nurses. Thus, the records showed that medications were administered by other nurses to elderly residents when, in fact, Stephens-Traverse took these pills for herself.
The Medicaid Fraud Unit of the New York State Office of the Attorney General investigated this case and arrested Stephens-Traverse in conjunction with the theft of the narcotics. According to Attorney General Schneiderman, “Resident safety is jeopardized when those responsible for their care are under the influence of dangerous narcotics. Opioid medications are highly addictive, and they must be closely monitored. My office will continue to prosecute unscrupulous medical professionals who steal patient medication and compromise the care they receive.”
Stephens-Traverse was arraigned in Hamptonburgh Town Justice Court before Judge Edward Souto. She was formally charged with Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, Forgery in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and Petit Larceny. She was released on personal recognizance and is due back in court on May 27, 2015.
Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree is prosecutable under New York Penal Law 175.10. This crime is an “E” class felony, which is the lowest grade of felony. Under this law, a person is guilty when he or she intends to defraud others, either by intending to commit another crime or aiding or concealing the commission of the crime. Stephens-Traverse faces up to 4 years in prison if convicted of this crime. Forgery in the Third Degree is prosecutable under New York Penal Law 170.05. The crime is a misdemeanor and requires that the perpetrator intended to defraud, deceive or injury another when making a false statement on a document. Virtually any written document qualifies under this law, including computer data and identification cards. Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree is a misdemeanor prosecutable under New York Penal Law 220.03. This law simply criminalizes possession of illegal substances, and the prosecutor need only prove that the defendant unlawfully possessed the substance. Petit Larceny is akin to theft. It is a misdemeanor that requires the prosecutor prove only that the defendant stole someone else’s property. All misdemeanors are each punishable by up to one year in prison. Stephens-Traverse therefore faces up to 7 years cumulatively in prison if found guilty.
Elderly residents in nursing homes rely on access to crucial pain medication in order to cope with debilitating diseases and illnesses. When a nursing home worker violates state law and nursing home policy and pilfers pain medication for personal use, nursing home residents are deprived of these critical medications. However, even more alarming is the potential for a nurse at a nursing home to be working and caring for patients while under the influence of a highly addictive narcotic. The risk of negligence, recklessness, and even intentional wrongdoing increases tenfold. While a nurse is under the influence, he or she is unable to properly care for someone or respond to emergency situations. This increases the danger of a nursing home resident being injured or even dying at the hands of a nurse under the influence of a controlled substance.
Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center Cited for Pressure Ulcers, Staffing
Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center received 77 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on January 7, 2022. The facility was recently placed on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ list of “Special Focus Facilities” candidates, meaning it has a record of serious citations. The Campbell Hall nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 15 inspections by state surveyors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not provide adequate pressure ulcer care. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must provide residents with necessary care and treatment to promote the healing of pressure ulcers. An August 2021 citation found that Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such for one resident. The citation states specifically that the resident’s records contained “no consistent documentation… to prove that that interventions and treatments were administered in accordance with the written care plan, and physician’s orders.” In interviews, facility nurses said that they conducted wound treatment but neglected to record it, with one saying that they “sometimes overlook signing treatments” in the resident’s records. A Certified Nursing Assistant said in one interview that she had observed the resident’s wound deteriorating and accordingly reported this to a nurse. The citation states that this deficiency had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
2. The nursing home did not adequately prevent medication errors. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must keep residents “free of any significant medication errors.” A June 2021 citation found that Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes one resident who had “three omissions of Intravenous antibiotics” and another whose insulin amounts were not documented in their Medication Administration Record. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included educational counseling of relevant nursing staff.
3. The nursing home did not maintain sufficient nursing staff. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must ensure the availability of sufficient nursing staff to meet residents’ needs. A June 2021 citation found that Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that Certified Nursing Assistant staffing levels “were below the facility assessed minimum levels” for three separate months in 2021. In an interview, the facility’s administrator said she was aware of the issue, telling a surveyor that “I realize that staffing is an issue here, we’ve gotten nurses now but CNAs, we need more.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the implementation of “a variety of measures to recruit and retain nursing staff,” such as advertisements and the review of new agency contracts.
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.
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.
