Personal Injury Law

Chattanooga Nursing Home Admissions Supended

New patient admissions at Life Care Center of Chattanooga Nursing Home have been suspended by the Tennessee Department of Health. The facility recently underwent a complaint investigation and survey and multiple deficiencies were found to exist that jeopardize and potentially jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of residents. The deficiencies cited were in the areas of administration, performance improvement, physician services, nursing services, medical records and pharmaceutical services.

Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have terminated the nursing home's Medicare provider agreement effective August 14, 2009. Fines were levied by the State Department of Health for $7,500.00 and a federal civil penalty in the amount of $6,300.00 per day.

As we find in many of our nursing home cases, it appears to be a matter of profits over people. The facility has chosen to not have an adequate staffing level to ensure that the needs of the residents are being met. We find in many cases that the record-keeping associated with the care does not always match the care given and that residents are not receiving the level of care that is purported to be given by the facilities. This closing is simply another in a long line of facilities that have had their ability to operate suspended or terminated because they were not giving even the minimal level of care that is mandated.

If you feel you or a family member has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home, we represent victims and their families to assist them in getting the help they need and compensation for past wrongs. Please feel free to contact us at the Higgins Firm for a free evaluation.

Full post as published by Tennessee Law Blog on August 19, 2009 (boomark / email).