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The Hamlet Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center at Nesconset received 20 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2022, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on May 13, 2022. The Nesconset nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of three inspections by state surveyors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not adequately keep residents free from the use of unnecessary psychotropic drugs. Under Section 483.45 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must maintain resident drug regimens free from the unnecessary use of medications that have an effect on “brain activities associated with mental processes and behavior.” A 2019 citation found that The Hamlet Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center at Nesconset failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes a resident who was administer such a medication without documented evidence of an appropriate diagnosis or the development of a comprehensive care plan to address such a diagnosis. In an interview, the facility’s attending physician said he was unaware if the resident had a history that would merit the medication. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included a review of the resident’s medication and discontinuation of the medication.
2. The nursing home did not provide adequate pain management. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must “ensure that pain management is provided to residents who require such services, consistent with professional standards of practice, the comprehensive person-centered care plan, and the residents’ goals and preferences.” A March 2019 citation found that The Hamlet Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center at Nesconset failed to ensure such. The citation specifically states that the resident did not ensure a resident given as-needed pain medication was assessed for their medication’s effectiveness. In an interview, the facility’s Registered Nurse Unit Charge Nurse said that “nurses should have documented the post pain [medication] administration to determine if the resident was relieved.” The citation describes this deficiency has having the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
3. The nursing home did not provide an adequate quality of care. Section 483.24 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must give residents “the necessary care and services to attain or maintain the highest practicable… well-being.” A March 2019 citation found that The Hamlet Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center at Nesconset failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes ta resident who “was not transferred to the emergency room… in a timely manner after a fall with a fracture.” In an interview, a facility physician said “the resident did not need to be transferred STAT because it was not an emergency,” while the facility’s Director of Nursing Services said that “she started in this facility a couple of months ago and is discovering systemic issues and is trying to address them.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the counseling of relevant 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.
