Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center has received 24 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 three surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not take proper measures to mitigate the risk of infection. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must “establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program” designed to ensure residents a “safe, sanitary and comfortable environment.” A May 2020 citation found that Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center did not ensure such for one resident. The citation states specifically that the facility did not ensure the completion of hand-washing after resident care, and that “multi-resident use equipment was cleansed after use on a resident and prior to returning item to a clean area to prevent the risk cross-contamination.” It goes on to describe an oximeter that was not cleansed according to policy requiring that it be “cleansed with disinfecting agent, super Sani-wipes after each use and remain on the nursing medication cart”; according to the citation, a nurse placed it on the medication cart without first cleansing it. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the reeducation of the nurse in question..
2. A December 2019 citation also found that Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center did not follow infection control code. This citation describes the facility’s failure to ensure infection control precautions were followed during a resident’s dressing change for an unstageable decubitus ulcer on their left great toe. The citation goes on to state that a separate resident was not provided with one tissue for each of their eyes following the administration of eyedrops. The citation describes these deficiencies as having the “potential to cause more than minimal harm to residents.”
3. The nursing home did not adequately prevent medication errors. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must keep medications below 95%. A November 2018 citation found that Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center did not ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which a resident was not given a dose of a certain medication “because it was not available,” and in which the MD was not notified of this missed dosage. It goes on to describe a separate instance in which another resident’s dosage was missed because the medication was not available. A plan of correction involved the reeducation of staff regarding medication pass practices.
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.