Elder Law

Nursing Home Fined For Failing To Prevent Bed Sores

By Levin & Perconti

The federal government has sanctioned several nursing homes for substandard treatment according to a new report. Syracuse News is reporting of fifteen facilities that have been named deficient according to an explanation of the federal inspections by the non-profit advocacy group Long Term Care Community Coalition.

The sanctions were doled out after federal inspectors found problems at the facilities. The most serious problem was many homes? failure to provide necessary care to prevent bed sores from developing. Staff at these negligent facilities failed to properly monitor resident skin, notify doctors of potential sore problems, or provide skin treatment as ordered.

Bed sores (also known as pressure sores) are painful wounds that are caused almost exclusive by inadequate care and attention. They are formed when by the constant pressure against a bony part of the body. Blood flow into the area decreases and the ulcer forms. There varying degrees of ulcers related to the amount of breakdown caused by the pressure problem. In all cases, however, nursing homes have a duty to identify residents who are at risk for developing the problem and working to ensure that they do not develop.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on December 16, 2010 (boomark / email).