The patient fractured her knees while falling out of bed in front of a nurse assistant, then complained of "intense pain," state records show. However, it took the nursing home five days to perform an x-ray, then another four days to have her be seen by a doctor.
The doctor then sent her for knee surgery at a hospital, where she died a month later.
As a result of this incident, Westmoreland Health and
Rehabilitation Center has been ordered to stop accepting new patients,
according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Health. The
nursing home, which is on Lyons View Pike, must also pay $30,000 in
penalties. The state has appointed a special monitor to oversee
operations at the nursing home.
Westmoreland, previously known as Brakebill Nursing Home, opened
in 1977. It is licensed for 222 beds and is the second-largest nursing
home in Knoxville.
The injured patient incident, which occurred in November, was revealed during a state investigation of the facility earlier this month. Investigation documents released to the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee on Monday describe the incident.
At Westmoreland, no new patients
The injured patient incident, which occurred in November, was revealed during a state investigation of the facility earlier this month. Investigation documents released to the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee on Monday describe the incident.
According to those documents, the patient, who is not identified,
fell out of bed and landed on her knees while a nursing assistant was
changing her sheets on Nov. 11. The patient then reported a new source
of pain but was not assessed by a doctor or a nurse.
Medical records, reviewed during the investigation, show that the
patient “complained of pain in her legs and knees daily,” and was
“noted to have bruising and swelling of the knees,” but nursing home
staff responded only by giving her pain medication, the documents state.
At one point, another nursing assistant reported that the patient had
"screamed" in pain and appeared to be desperate for help — saying "oh
please, please please" — the documents state.
"The (certified nursing assistant) further stated she asked staff
everyday if anything had been done for the resident, such as an x-ray,
and was told no," the documents state.
Five days after the fall, the patient finally received an
x-ray, revealing fractures in both knees. Four days later, the patient
was seen by an orthopedic physician, who admitted her at a hospital “due
to the severity of the knee fractures,” the documents state.
At the hospital, the woman’s knees were repaired to alleviate her
pain but it was clear she would not recover. She died about a month
later on Dec. 18.
According to the state news release, Westmoreland was found to be
below state standards for nursing home administration, performance
improvement, nursing services, radiology services and resident rights.
Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner can suspend admissions at a
nursing home if conditions are deemed likely to be “detrimental to the
health, safety or welfare of the residents.”
Westmoreland did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Full Article & Source:
New patients barred at Knoxville nursing home after woman with broken knees left in agony for 9 days
1 comment:
I hope all the existing patients and their families are being interviewed.
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