(914) 220-1086Maria Regina Residence received 18 citations for violations of public health code between 2016 and 2020, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 4, 2020. The Brentwood 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 care for bedsores / pressure ulcers. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to ensure that residents with pressure ulcers receive necessary treatment and care. A May 2019 citation found that Maria Regina Residence did not ensure such for one resident. The citation states specifically that the resident developed a Stage II pressure ulcer on their right heel, but that there was “no documented evidence of monitoring of the pressure ulcer” for a several week-long period after its development. In an interview, the facility’s Director of Nursing Services stated that she “could not commented why the wound care team had not been following the resident’s heel ulcer.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the in-servicing of all licensed nurses and the addition of the resident’s pressure ulcer to the wound management section of their medical record.
2. The nursing home did not ensure residents were protected from the use of unnecessary drugs. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must keep resident drug regimens “free from unnecessary drugs.” A December 2016 citation found that Maria Regina Residence did not ensure such for two residents. It states specifically that one resident was prescribed an antipsychotic medication without any signs or symptoms of indicators for such, and that a second resident was administered a redacted medication without any documented attempt for why a gradual dose reduction was not attempted. The citation states that these deficiencies had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm” to residents.
3. The nursing home did not implement adequate measures to prevent the unnecessary use of psychotropic medications. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing home residents “who have not used psychotropic drugs are not given these drugs unless the medication is necessary to treat a specific condition as diagnosed and documented in the clinical record.” A May 2019 citation found that Maria Regina Residence did not ensure such for two residents. The citation states specifically that one resident was administered a certain medication with no documented evidence of any approved indications or behaviors justifying such, and that the second was administered a redacted medication without any documented evidence of an approved diagnoses for such. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included a reduction of the first resident’s medication dosage, and an evaluation of the second resident that added an indication for their medication’s use to the medical record.
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.
