Katherine Luther Residential Health Care and Rehabilitation Center received 36 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 Clinton nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of nine inspections by state surveyors. The violations they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not undertake adequate accident-prevention measures. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must provide residents a setting free of accident hazards and with adequate staff supervision to prevent residents from sustaining accidents. A June 2022 citation found that Katherine Luther Residential Health Care and Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which floor mats were not placed beside a resident’s bed as per their plan of care. When the resident fell out of bed, the citation adds, they sustained a fracture. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included an evaluation of the resident, which determined that their assistance devices where a tripping hazard.
2. Katherine Luther Residential Health Care and Rehabilitation Center was also cited for accident-prevention failures in September 2021. This citation described one resident discovered to have a hip injury without any documentation that they suffered a fall or suspected fall leading to the injury. A second resident described by the citation was identified as being at high risk for falls and required extensive assistance for various activities of daily living, but suffered falls on several instances. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the education of relevant staff regarding transfers and accident prevention measures.
3. The nursing home did not implement adequate measures to prevent and control infection. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing home facilities are required to “establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to… help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.” An April 2022 citation found that Katherine Luther Residential Health Care and Rehabilitation Center failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes a resident who “was exposed to influenza and was not placed on transmission-based precautions,” a maintenance worker who failed to wear appropriate personal protective equipment in a Covid-19 unit, a nurse who similarly failed to wear PPE in a Covid-19 unit, and two nurses who failed to properly disinfect and use a glucometer. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the re-education of relevant staff regarding the use of PPE and the disinfection of glucometers.
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.
