The Grand Pavilion for Rehab & Nursing at Rockville Centre received 26 citations for violations of public health code between 2016 and 2020, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on March 19, 2020. The Rockville Centre nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of six surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not ensure residents were protected from involuntary seclusion. Section 483.13 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing home residents have a right to freedom from “verbal, sexual, physical, and mental abuse, corporal punishment, and involuntary seclusion.” A May 2016 citation found that The Grand Pavilion for Rehab & Nursing at Rockville Centre did not ensure such for one resident. The citation states specifically that the resident was “not provided access to the dining room and offered activities of choice,” per the resident’s wishes. The citation goes on to state that the resident was “placed on isolation,” although there was no clinical indication for such. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the addition of the resident to the facility’s dining room seating plan.
2. The nursing home did not ensure resident drug regimens were free of unnecessary psychotropic drugs. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must keep residents’ medication regimens free from the unnecessary use of medications that influence “brain activities associated with mental processes and behavior,” including anti-psychotic drugs. An October 2018 citation found that The Grand Pavilion for Rehab & Nursing at Rockville Centre did not ensure one resident was kept free of such. The citation states specifically that the staff administered an anti-psychotic medication to the resident for ten days even though the medication was intended for another resident. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the discontinuation of the medication and the in-servicing of the facility’s Registered Nurse regarding relevant policy.
3. The nursing home did not implement adequate measures to prevent and control infection. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to establish an infection prevention and control program. A September 2017 citation found that The Grand Pavilion for Rehab & Nursing at Rockville Centre did not ensure the maintenance of such a program for all residents. The citation states specifically that a Licensed Practical Nurse did not practice proper hand hygiene and infection-prevention technique during the performance of wound care for a resident’s pressure ulcer. Among other things, according to the citation, the LPN used a saline gauze to cleanse a resident’s wound “in a circular motion several times in the center of the wound” rather than “inner to outer edges.” According to the citation, the LPN also “did not perform hand hygiene after removing the soil dressing, between wounds, or prior to dressing the wounds.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included regular auditing of the nurse in question.
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.
