The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Mohawk received 44 citations for violations of public health laws between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on April 1, 2021. The facility has also received three fines since 2019, totaling $22,000, over findings of health code violations. The Ilion nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 10 inspections by state surveyors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not employ adequate measures to control infection. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must help prevent the transmission of communicable diseases and infections by creating and upholding an infection control program. A December 2020 citation found that The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Mohawk failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that two Certified Nursing Aides “tested positive for COVID-19 and returned to work” before completing a 14-day quarantine and receiving negative PCR tests. Guidance at the time held that nursing home employees who test positive and remain asymptomatic were not eligible to return to work for 14 days from their positive result, while symptomatic employees were required to wait 14 days plus 3 days since the resolution of fever. The citation states that this deficiency had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
2. The nursing home did not adequately care for pressure ulcers. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must ensure residents receive professional care designed to prevent the development of pressure ulcers. A February 2020 citation found that The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Mohawk failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that while a resident was in surgery for a separate injury, they were discovered to have a pressure ulcer that “was not assessed by a qualified professional when the resident returned to the facility and no interventions or treatment were implemented until 3 days later.” The citation states further that the nursing home failed to take measures to prevent pressure sores and “did not consistently monitor” the resident’s skin, after which the resident developed more pressure sores. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the education of therapy staff.
3. The nursing home did not adequately prevent medication errors. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing homes are required to keep their residents “free of any significant medication errors.” A September 2019 citation found that The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Mohawk failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that three residents were not administered their blood sugar monitoring and insulin injections “at the ordered times.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the re-education of the Licensed Practical Nurse connected to the late administrations, who the citation states had been “working in the unit alone.”
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.