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Saratoga Center for Rehab and Skilled Nursing Care has received 88 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on March 5, 2021, as well as four fines totaling $36,000 since 2014. The Ballston Spa nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 7 surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not implement adequate infection control practices. Under Section 483.80 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must create and uphold an infection prevention and control program that helps to prevent the development and transmission of disease and infection. A November 2019 citation found that Saratoga Center for Rehab and Skilled Nursing Care failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the facility did not ensure the annual updating of infection control policies, and further, that the facility did not maintain “standard precautions” during a resident’s dressing change. The citation goes on to describe an instance in which a Graduate Practical Nurse was conducting a dressing change for a resident’s pressure ulcer and did not properly remove their gloves or perform hand hygiene after cleansing the wound and before applying ointment. The citation finally states that in certain shared bathrooms in the facility, residents’ personal items were not labeled. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the review of infection prevention policies.
2. The citation did not adequately protect residents from accidents. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing home residents have a right to an environment as free as possible of accident hazards, and in which residents are provided with adequate supervision to prevent accidents. A November 2019 citation found that Saratoga Center for Rehab and Skilled Nursing Care failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that for one resident, the nursing home “did not ensure a systematic approach was utilized to communicate observed hazards related to the accessibility of the resident’s smoking supplies,” and further, that it failed to establish and execute a personalized care plan to address the possibility that the resident might not comply with the facility’s smoking policy. As the citation describes, facility policy documented that the facility “was a smoke free facility” where residents were not permitted to smoke, but the resident in question was “an active smoker” who smoked in a designated smoking area when her family visited and kept her lighter in her room. The citation states that these deficiencies had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
3. The citation did not adequately care for residents’ pressure ulcers. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to ensure that residents receive care adequate to prevent the avoidable development of pressure ulcers, and that residents with pressure ulcers receive care and service to promote the healing thereof, and to prevent the development of additional ulcers. A May 2019 citation found that Saratoga Center for Rehab and Skilled Nursing Care failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the facility did not ensure a resident’s mechanical wound treatment was “applied correctly and functioned properly.” It goes on to state that while the resident’s care plan provided for her to wear heel booties while in bed, she was observed in bed on multiple occasions without wearing her heel booties. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the review and revision of facility policies and guidelines.
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.
