There has been a significant rise in the number of senior citizens moving into nursing facilities throughout the United States in recent years. Many of these individuals are highly susceptible to abuse and neglect by caregivers, employees or other patients that caused them severe physical harm or premature death.
If your loved one is the victim of mistreatment while residing in a Dodge County nursing facility, contact the Georgia Nursing Home Law Center attorneys now for immediate legal assistance. Let our team of lawyers handle your case to ensure your family is adequately compensated for your monetary damages.
This nursing center is a "for profit" Medicare/Medicaid-participating facility providing services to residents of Eastman and Dodge County, Georgia. The 100-certified bed long-term care nursing home is located at:
556 Chester Highway
Eastman, Georgia 31023
(478) 374-4733
The state of Georgia and the federal government have a legal responsibility for monitoring every nursing home. These agencies have the authority to impose monetary penalties or withhold payment from Medicare if the nursing facility has violated rules and regulations.
Over the last thirty-six months, Eastman Health Care and Rehab Center received thirteen formally filed complaints that all resulted in citations. Additional documentation about fines and penalties can be reviewed on the Georgia Nursing Home Reporting Website.
The state of Georgia and Medicare.com routinely update their comprehensive list of deficiencies, violations, and citations and post the information online. According to Medicare, this facility maintains an overall rating of one out of five stars, including one out of five stars concerning health inspections, one out of five stars for staffing issues and one out of five stars for quality measures.
Failure to Provide and Implement an Infection Protection and Control Program - citation date June 21, 2018
According to investigators, the facility "failed to have readily available Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the laundry department, when handling soiled linen."
The state investigative team observed the facility's laundry room and interviewed laundry personnel. One laundry employee "was wearing gloves and was observed washing linen at this time, with no apron observed to be in place. There was five large [containers] filled with bag soiled linen."
The laundry employee "was able to verbalize and walked [through the process of] the transportation and handling of the soiled laundry. However, when asked where the personal protective equipment was kept, she stated they do not have it here in the laundry room [and that] she has to ask her supervisor for a gown and face shield when needed."
The laundry supervisor stated that "we do not keep PPE equipment in the laundry room, just the gloves." The supervisor reported that "nursing would let them know if they had a resident on contact precautions [because of a contagious infection] and also reported that staff was in-service on Personal Protective Equipment by the Director of Nursing.
Failure to Ensure There Is an Effective Pest Control Program to Prevent or Deal with Mice, Insects or Other Pests - citation date June 21, 2018
The investigators documented that the facility "failed to provide adequate pest control for the facility related to flies and roaches." The state investigators observed a box with a white powdery substance on it in the storage room on boxes and shelving. The following day, the surveyors observed: "pests crawling on the shells where dry goods are stored."
Failure to Timely Report Suspected Abuse, Neglect or Theft and Report the Results of the Investigation to Proper Authorities - citation date March 23, 2018
The surveyors noted the facility "failed to report an allegation of physical abuse within two hours after the resident reported being slapped by another resident." The investigators interviewed the resident who stated that "around 2:00 AM, [another patient] came into her room and slapped her. She stated that on Monday, March 19, 2018, she went to the Director of Nursing office and reported [the incident] to the Registered Nurse (RN), and later went to the Administrator's office and reported to him."
When asked why the report involving resident abuse was not submitted to the State agency within 24 hours, the Administrator stated that "he thought he had 24 hours to report the allegation of abuse since there was not an injury."
Do you believe that your loved one is the victim of mistreatment, abuse or neglect while living at Eastman Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center? Contact the Georgia nursing home abuse attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 now. We represent Dodge County victims of abuse and neglect in all areas including Eastman.
We never charge to discuss your case through an initial claim consultation. Also, we offer a 100% "No Win/No-Fee" Guarantee, meaning you will not pay us our fees unless we have received a monetary recovery on your behalf. All information you share with our law offices will remain confidential.
Attorney Lance D. Lourie
Licensed in Georgia
Eastman Nursing Home Injury Attorney Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home