(914) 220-1086Sodus Rehabilitation & Nursing Center has received 95 citations for violations of public health code between 2016 and 2020, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on July 31, 2020. The facility also received a 2019 fine of $10,000 in connection to findings it violated unspecified health code provisions. The Sodus nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 10 surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not establish an adequate infection control program. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must “establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.” A June 2019 citation found that Sodus Rehabilitation & Nursing Center failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that the nursing home could no provide evidence of a program “that consistently identified, tracked, investigates, monitored, and analyzed surveillance date to prevent infections in the facility.” The citation goes on to state that a review of the facility’s infection control line listing, the facility provided a form that it used to track infection and antibiotic usage, and that review of a 5-month period in the form “revealed inconsistent data related to resident diagnosis, control measures, resolved data, and/or the organism that was being treated.” In an interview, the facility’s Director of Nursing said the information “could be found in the computer, however, she was unable to locate the information when asked.”
2. The nursing home did not adequately prevent medication errors. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must ensure their residents “are free of any significant medication errors.” A January 2018 citation found that Sodus Rehabilitation & Nursing Center did not ensure such for on resident. The citation states specifically that the resident received five doses of an anti-anxiety medication in contravention of a doctor’s orders that the resident receive it twice a day. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the educational counseling of licensed nurses.
3. The nursing home did not adequately supervise residents. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code mandates that nursing homes must ensure residents are provided with adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent them from sustaining accidents. An October 2017 citation found that Sodus Rehabilitation & Nursing Center failed to ensure such for one resident. The citation states specifically that the resident eloped from the building. It goes on to state that the resident was observed outside of the secured unit to which they were admitted, and that they were observed with a hematoma above their left eye. A review determined that the resident had opened an alarmed back door of the locked unit and walked out through it. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the assessment of the resident and their return to the secured unit, as well as the locking of the secured unit’s exit door with a key pad code.
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.
