Eddy Heritage House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has received 31 citations for violations of public health code between 2016 and 2020, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on August 5, 2020. The Troy 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 adequately prevent medication errors. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must ensure residents “are free of any significant medication errors.” A February 2020 citation found that Eddy Heritage House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the facility did not ensure a resident received the correct dosage of a redacted medication as it was prescribed by their physician. In an interview, the facility’s Registered Nurse Manager stated that the resident’s order was incorrectly entered into the facility’s system, and as such it could not have been checked by the nurse who administered the medication. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the re-education of relevant staff.
2. The nursing home did not employ adequate measures to prevent infection. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must create and maintain a program designed to prevent and control infection. A June 2018 citation found that Eddy Heritage House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center did not ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which a glucometer was not wiped before and after use. It goes on to describe an instance in which “hand hygiene and donning of gloves during medication administration via peg tube was not practiced per infection control guidelines,” and further states that “two unlabeled urinals were hanging on a bar by the toilet.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the training of nursing staff on glucometer cleaning and hand washing.
3. The nursing home did not employ adequate measures to comply with food safety. Section 483.35 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must store food under sanitary conditions. A November 2016 citation found that Eddy Heritage House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center did not ensure such. The citation states specifically that the nursing home “did not utilize safe practices to prevent food borne illness.” It goes on to describe an instance in which the hermetic seal of a canned food item in the facility’s main kitchen “was compromised.” The item in question was a can of water chestnuts in the facility’s dry storage area. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the removal of the can.
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.
