Union Plaza Care Center suffered 20 coronavirus deaths as of May 17, 2020, per state records. The nursing home also received nine citations for violations of public health code between 2016 and 2020, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on May 18, 2020. The facility has additionally received one enforcement action: a 2010 fine of $2,000 in connection to findings in a 2009 inspection that it violated health code provisions regarding accidents and supervision. The Flushing nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of seven surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not ensure the establishment and maintenance of its infection prevention and control program. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing home facilities must create and maintain infection control programs that help prevent disease and infection. A March 2020 citation found that Union Plaza Care Center did not ensure such. The citation states specifically that a resident’s Bi-pap machine oxygen tubing “was observed touching the floor,” and that a resident’s nasal cannula was observed “attached to a portable oxygen tank uncovered and touching the floor.” The citation states that these deficiencies had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
2. The nursing home did not ensure residents received a high enough quality of care. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to provide residents with a high level of treatment and care, “in accordance with professional standards of practice, the comprehensive person-centered care plan, and the residents’ choices.” A March 2020 citation found that Union Plaza Care Center did not such for two residents. The citation states specifically that the two residents were administered doses of insulin without a physician’s orders. One resident was administered the insulin without any documented evidence of a physician’s order for such; the other was administered insulin on a daily basis, rather than every other day, as the physician had ordered. The citation states that this deficiency had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
3. The nursing home did not ensure all residents received necessary dental services. Under Section 483.55 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must provide or arrange for residents to receive routine and emergency dental services. A February 2017 citation found that Union Plaza Care Center did not ensure such for one resident. The citation states specifically that a dentist had identified the resident as having loose partial upper dentures, but “there was no documented evidence that the facility addressed the loose partial upper dentures.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the application of a denture adhesive to the resident’s denture, and the auditing of dental consults for all residents at the facility to assess whether there were any unaddressed dental concerns.
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.
