Northern Manor Geriatric Center received 34 citations for violations of public health code between 2016 and 2020, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on February 13, 2020. The facility has also been the subject of a 2016 fine of $10,000 in connection to findings during a 2014 inspection that it violated health code provisions regarding pressure sores; and another 2016 fine of $10,000 in connection to findings during a 2015 inspection that it violated health code provisions regarding pressure sores. The Nanuet 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 take adequate steps to prevent residents from sustaining falls. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must provide residents an environment “as free of accident hazards as is possible” and with “adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents.” A January 2019 citation found that Northern Manor Geriatric Center did not ensure effective assistance devices were provided to residents who required them. The citation states specifically that in connection to a resident’s fall while being transferred from their bed to their wheelchair via a mechanical lift using a sling, the nursing home did not ensure “the sling was laundered according to the manufacture’s [sic] instructions,” that the facility’s staff had been trained to assess the sling’s functionality before using it, and that the nursing home had a system to inspect such slings. The citation notes that the residents sustained a redacted injury from the fall, and was sent to the hospital.
2. The nursing home did not take adequate steps to prevent and control infection. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must establish and maintain “an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment.” A January 2019 citation found that Northern Manor Geriatric Home did not ensure its nursing staff employed proper hand hygiene practices when administering medication to residents. The citation states specifically that an inspector observed one of the facility’s Licensed Practical Nurses using hand sanitizer before pouring a resident’s medication; afterward, according to the citation, the LPN discarded the resident’s “empty medication and water cups, wiped top of the resident’s night stand and pushed the medication cart” to another resident’s room, proceeding to administer that resident’s medications without washing her hands. In an interview, the facility’s Director of Nursing stated that the LPN “was not aware that she should have washed before administering medications to the other resident.”
3. The nursing home did not ensure residents were not administered unnecessary psychotropic medications. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code states that nursing homes must maintain each resident’s drug regimen “free from unnecessary drugs.” An April 2017 citation found that Northern Manor Geriatric Home did not ensure a resident’s drug regimen was free from unnecessary drugs, finding specifically that a resident was administered an antipsychotic medication “without adequate monitoring of the resident’s behavior for its continued use.” The citation goes on to state that the resident’s comprehensive care plan contained “no description of the behaviors” for which the medication was prescribed, nor any “interventions implemented prior to use of this antipsychotic medication.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included an evaluation of the resident and the discontinuation of the medication.
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.
