Hope Center for HIV and Nursing Care has received 21 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on October 1, 2022. The Bronx 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 implement adequate measures to prevent elopement. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code requires nursing home facilities to ensure residents an environment as free as possible from accident hazards, with provide proper supervision to prevent accidents. A November 2021 citation found that Hope Center for HIV and Nursing Care failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes two residents who were not adequately supervised to prevent elopement .One resident, according to the citation, “was missing for 25 hours before facility staff became aware the resident was missing.” The second resident eloped after being dropped off at a medical facility for treatment, with the citation stating that there was no documentation that they “walked out” without receiving their treatment. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the education of relevant staff.
2. The nursing home did not employ adequate measures to control infection. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must help prevent the transmission of communicable diseases and infections by creating and upholding an infection control program. An October 2021 citation found that Hope Center for HIV and Nursing Care failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes observations that residents receiving “oxygen/nebulizer/suction treatment” were using devices with tubing that was “not properly labelled and dated to indicate the time the tubing was replaced.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the immediate replacement and labeling of the tubing.
3. The citation did not maintain sufficient nursing staff. Section 483.35 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes “must have sufficient nursing staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to provide nursing and related services to assure resident safety and attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident.” An October 2021 citation found that Hope Center for HIV and Nursing Care failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes two residents who did not receive doses of antibiotic medications as ordered during “overnight hours.” In an interview, a registered nurse said that there were supposed to be two nurses in the building during the shifts in question, “but at times there is only one for medications.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the counseling and education of the staff scheduled during the shifts in question, as well as the development and placement of employment advertisements.
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.
