Sands Point Center for Health and Rehabilitation received 35 citations for violations of public health code between 2016 and 2020, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on March 15, 2020. The Port Washington nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of five surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not provide adequate pressure ulcer care and treatment. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must provide residents with pressure ulcers “necessary treatment and services to promote healing, prevent infection and prevent new sores from developing.” A July 2018 citation found that Sands Point Center for Health and Rehabilitation did not ensure such for one resident. The citation states specifically that “there was no documented evidence that a skin condition to the sacrum was assessed or received treatment until five days after the resident was admitted to the facility.” In an interview, the facility’s wound nurse stated that she had not seen the resident until several days after a note was left for her about the wound, and that “the wound should have been treated sooner.” The facility’s Medical Doctor stated further, in an interview, that “the doctor should have been called over the weekend and a treatment initiated.”
2. The nursing home did not take adequate measures to protect residents from the use of unnecessary drugs. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing homes are required to keep “each resident’s drug regimen… free from unnecessary drugs.” A March 2017 citation found that Sands Point Center for Health and Rehabilitation did not ensure such for three residents. The citation goes on to state specifically that one resident was administered an antipsychotic medication despite an absence of any “documented justification or attempts at non-pharmacological intervention”; that another resident was administered an antipsychotic medication without an appropriate diagnosis and that a third resident was administered multiple drugs, including an antipsychotic, without an appropriate psychiatric diagnosis. The citation states that this deficiency had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm” to residents.
3. The nursing home did not implement adequate measures to prevent and control the spread of infection. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing homes are required to “establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program” that provide ensure residents with a “safe, sanitary and comfortable environment.” A March 2017 citation found that Sands Point Center for Health and Rehabilitation did not ensure such measures were implemented in one of its nursing units. The citation states specifically that a resident in the unit “was on contact precautions due to an Clostridium Difficile (C-Diff) infection,” and yet in spite of this, the resident’s room entrance had no sign “alerting staff and visitors to check with the nurse before entering the room.” In an interview, the facility’s Registered Nurse Unit Supervisor said that there was no sign “because of privacy and dignity.” In a separate interview, the facility’s Acting Director of Nursing Services stated that “she would put the sign up.”
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.