Park Avenue Extended Care Facility received 14 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on August 14, 2021. The Long Beach nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of four surveys by state inspectors. The violations they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not properly prevent medication errors. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing home residents have the right to be “free of any significant medication errors.” A February 2020 citation found that Park Avenue Extended Care Facility failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the nursing home did not ensure one resident’s medication was administered in the parameters ordered by the physician. In an interview, a Licensed Practical Nurse said she had followed the instructions on the medication’s blister pack, and was not aware they reflected old physician’s orders that did not reflect current orders. In an interview, the facility’s Director of Nursing Services said that “the old blister pack should have been returned to the pharmacy by any one of the nurses on duty and replaced with the newly ordered medication blister pack.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the educational counseling of the nurse in question.
2. The nursing home did not adequately care for residents’ pressure ulcers. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing homes are required to provide residents receive timely care and services to prevent them from developing pressure ulcers. A February 2020 citation found that Park Avenue Extended Care Facility failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that a resident identified at moderate risk for developing pressure ulcers “was identified with a skin opening to the left buttock by the Certified Nursing Assistants,” who reported the development to a nurse. However, according to the citation, the resident’s records “lacked documented evidence of an assessment by a qualified health professional,” and that treatment ordered by the resident’s physician “was not implemented until the next day.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included educational counseling of the nurse who was informed of the ulcer’s development but failed to appropriately follow up.
3. The nursing home failed to properly investigate an accident and incident report. Under Section 483.12 of the Federal Code, nursing home facilities are required to thoroughly investigate all allegations of abuse or neglect, prevent further incidents while the investigation is underway, and timely report the results of these investigations. A December 2018 citation found that Park Avenue Extended Care Facility failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that after a resident fell from her wheelchair, the facility’s accident/incident report “did not investigate if the call bell was within reach, if the resident used the call bell or if the call bell was properly functioning to complete the investigation.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the educational counseling of the facility’s Assistant Director of Nursing Services and the placement of a functional call bell within reach of the resident.
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.
