Woodcrest Rehabilitation & Residential Health Care Center received 20 citations for violations of public health laws between 2015 and 2019, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on January 10, 2020. The facility was also the subject of a 2010 fine of $4,000 in connection to findings it violated health code provisions regarding staff treatment of residents. The College Point nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of two surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not ensure resident drugs regimens were free from unnecessary drugs. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to keep resident drug regimens free from unnecessary drugs, which includes drugs used in excessive dosage, for an excessive duration, or without adequate monitoring. A November 2016 citation found that the nursing home did not ensure a resident’s increased dosage of an antipsychotic medication was necessary. A review of medical records noted that the facility’s consultant pharmacist had recommended the physician assess the resident’s current need for the medication, then discontinue it if necessary; according to the citation, a psychiatric consultation was never conducted as ordered by the physician. The citation goes on to state that there was no Nursing Progress Note or Physician Progress Note in the resident’s records justifying an increase in the dosage of the medication. In interviews, the facility’s Registered Nurse “stated that she must have forgotten to write a Nursing Progress Note,” and the Director of Nursing stated “that there was an inconsistency between what was recommended on the Psych consult and how the order was entered into the computer,” explaining that the psychiatrist’s evaluation of the resident was not completed due to recent staffing changes.
2. The nursing home did not follow food safety standards. Section 483.60 of the Federal Code stipulates that nursing homes must store and serve food under sanitary conditions. A June 2018 citation found that the nursing home did not comply with this section. An inspector specifically found that cold food items including tuna and salami sandwiches on a tray line were not held at proper temperatures of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below; that “the ice cream refrigerator was observed with pink, brown, and white drippings on the inside of the door”; that the base of the ice cream refrigerator was “stuffed with boxes,” obstructing airflow; and that there were “cross contamination practices between food items” during temperature testing and handling. The citation describes this deficiency as “widespread” and having “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
3. The nursing home did not ensure a sanitary environment for residents. Section 483.10 of the Federal Code provides for each nursing home resident’s right “to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.” A June 2018 citation found that Woodcrest Rehabilitation & Residential Health Care Center did not ensure the maintenance of a sanitary interior environment. An inspector specifically observed floors and other areas with furniture “in disrepair and dirty, clutter, trash and debris on floors.” The inspector also observed “chipped and broken floor tiles” in bathrooms, broken fixtures, and “odors emitting from resident rooms.” The citation describes these deficiencies has having the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
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.
