The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Barnwell received 102 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on September 23, 2022. The Valatie nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 23 surveys by state inspectors. The violations they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not adequately prevent accidents. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing home facilities must provide an environment as free as possible from accident hazards, and to provide necessary supervision to prevent accidents. A January 2022 citation found that The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Barnwell failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes the facility’s failure to “identify and evaluate hazards and risks associated with other residents” entering a resident’s room; to identify and assess risks associated with a resident providing care for other residents; and to ensure an adequate environment for a resident with a visual impairment, who “subsequently had a fall and sustained a right femoral fracture.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the re-education of staff and the placement of a sign outside the first resident’s room to prevent other residents from entering.
2. The nursing home did not take adequate steps to prevent medication errors. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to keep residents “free of any significant medication errors.” A May 2022 citation found that The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Barnwell failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which the facility failed to ensure three residents received medications in a timely manner. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the immediate assessment of the residents by a medical professional and the re-education of relevant staff.
3. The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Barnwell was also cited for failing to prevent medication errors under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code in January 2022. This citation describes an instance in which the facility failed to ensure a resident “in a hypercoagulable state,” meaning they had “an increased tendency to develop blood clots,” received a blood thinner as ordered, “resulting in four missed doses.” In an interview, a Nurse Practitioner said that the medication “should have never gone more than 1 dose being late, let alone not receiving a dose at all.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the immediate re-education of nursing staff.
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.