Onondaga Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has received 49 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on May 13, 2021. The Minoa nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of nine surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not properly prevent medication errors. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to ensure residents are kept “free of any significant medication errors.” A September 2018 citation found that Onondaga Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that a resident admitted to the facility with physician’s orders to be administered pain medication was not administered the medications in question “until the evening shift on the resident’s second day at the facility.” The citation states further that the resident’s pain levels were not “consistently documented” and that they had orders for a redacted pain medication that was “not administered 6 out of 17 doses while at the facility.”
2. The nursing home did not adequately prevent accidents. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must ensure residents receive adequate supervision to prevent them from sustaining accidents. An August 2018 citation found that Onondaga Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the facility’s staff did not follow policies and procedures “to search for a possible missing resident, and account for the presence of all residents in the facility when the exterior door and/or the wander alert device alarm sounded.” As a result, the facility states, a resident exited the facility undetected by staff and was found almost an hour later half a mile away from the facility. According to the citation, this deficiency could potentially affect 16 residents at the facility “who were identified by the facility to be at risk for elopement.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the installation of a new alarm system.
3. The facility did not provide proper pressure ulcer care. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing homes are required to provide residents with necessary treatment and care to promote the healing of pressure ulcers and prevent the development of new ulcers. A February 2018 citation found that Onondaga Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that when a resident received an evaluation for pressure ulcer at the facility’s wound care center, the center’s recommendations “were not communicated to the provider.” As a result, the resident’s pressure ulcer treatments were not consistently administered, and the facility did not provide the resident with a Roho cushion. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the education of nursing staff.
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.