Do you and your family suspect that the care provided to your loved one in a nursing home failed to meet professional standards of quality? Are you sure that your loved one could be the victim of mistreatment, neglect or abuse or was injured by the hands of their caregivers, other residents, employees or visitors? If so, the nursing home might not be following federal and state statutes that require them to comply with all established protocols, procedures and policies.
The New Mexico Nursing Home Law Center attorneys have represented many victims of San Juan County nursing facilities to ensure they receive adequate compensation to recover their monetary damages. We can help your family too. Let us begin working on your case today. We can start by using state laws to seek justice and hold those at fault for hurting your loved one both financially and legally accountable.
This facility is an 88-certified bed "not for profit church-related" long-term care home providing services and cares to residents of Aztec and San Juan County, New Mexico. The Medicare/Medicaid-participating center is located at:
500 Care Lane
Aztec, New Mexico, 87410
(505) 334-9445
The investigators working for the state of New Mexico and the federal government have the legal authority to impose monetary fines and deny payment for Medicare services if the nursing home has been cited for serious violations of established regulations. Within the last three years, these regulatory agencies levied a massive $117,196 against Good Samaritan Society - Four Corners Village on December 3, 2015.
Also, Medicare denied payment for services rendered on December 3, 2015. During the last thirty-six months, the Nursing Home received one formally filed complaint and self-reported two problems that resulted in a citation. Additional information concerning penalties and fines can be found on the New Mexico Department of Health Nursing Home Reporting Website concerning this nursing facility.
Families can download statistics from the Medicare.gov and New Mexico Department of Public Health online sites to view a comprehensive historical list of all dangerous hazards, opened investigations, health violations, safety concerns, filed complaints, and incident inquiries of every nursing home statewide. The information can be used to determine the level of health sevices and hygiene care each community LTC facility provides its patients.
According to Medicare, this facility maintains an overall rating of one out of five stars, including one out of five stars concerning health inspections, three out of five stars for staffing issues and three out of five stars for quality measures. The San Juan County neglect attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center have found serious deficiencies, hazardous violations and safety concerns at Good Samaritan Society - Four Corners Village that includes:
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 17, 2018, the state surveyors noted the nursing home had failed to "implement the abuse policy and procedure for reporting injuries of an unknown origin. This [failure affected one resident] reviewed for injury of unknown origin. If the facility is not reporting and investigating injuries of unknown origin according to policies, then the facility is likely to be unable to determine the cause and identify strategies for preventing further abuse."
The deficient practice was evidenced by the findings and a review of the resident's clinical records that showed that the resident has a progressive disease (that destroys memory and other important mental functions)." The documents also show the resident has "dementia and other serious medical conditions including dyspepsia (indigestion)" and a condition that "produces insufficient hormones, impacting the metabolism."
The state investigator reviewed the resident's Progress Notes dated May 11, 2018, at 10:55 AM that documented that the emergency room nurse identified the resident with "a right shoulder dislocation." The notation shows that "they will be popping it back into place in the resident will be returning [back to the facility sometime] today." A review of the Health Facility Licensing and Certification Incident Report dated May 14, 2018, revealed that "the type of alleged injury of unknown origin" occurred on May 11, 2018 during the a.m. hours when the Certified Nursing Aides (CNA) reported the right shoulder swollen [and that it] looks different."
The investigators reviewed the facility faxed transmittal sheet of the record that indicated "the facility reported the injury of unknown origin to the State survey agency on May 14, 2018, at 11:10 AM, three days after the injury was identified."
As a part of the investigative process, the surveyors interviewed the Director of Nursing services on May 17, 2018, and "asked how the resident sustained [their injury]. She was asked when she reported the injury of unknown origin to the State survey agency." The Director replied that "she had two hours to report it and she did not report it until Monday (May 14, 2018). She then stated, 'I know it is late.' She was asked if her abuse policy and procedure had been followed for reporting injuries of unknown origin." The Director responded, "no, I did not follow it. I reported it late."
In a separate summary statement of deficiencies dated February 10, 2017, the state investigator documented the nursing home's failure to "report an unwitnessed fall with an injury to the State agency." The deficient practice by the nursing staff involved one resident reviewed for accidents. It was noted that the failure "has the potential to prevent incidents from being appropriately investigated and may result in a failure to prevent further abuse."
The incident was documented in a resident's Medical Records, and Progress Notes dated January 4, 2017 "indicating the resident was found on her left side and [was] partially under the bathroom sink." At that time, the resident "had a head injury and was bleeding."
The investigators reviewed the resident's Emergency Room Discharge Instruction stated January 4, 2017 and interviewed the Director of Nursing who stated that the resident "fell forward in the bathroom and she hit her head." The Director stated that the resident was sent to "the emergency room to make sure there were no fractures. She stated she did not report this unwitnessed fall with an injury to the State agency because the resident did not have a fracture or head injury." The Director said, "That is on me, I did not report it."
The investigators also documented that the facility "had failed to implement their policy and procedure regarding incident reporting to the State agency." This failure "has the potential to prevent incidents from being appropriately investigated and may result in a failure to prevent further abuse."
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated February 10, 2017, the state surveying team documented that the nursing home had failed to "ensure that residents have the right to a dignified existence." The deficient practice by the nursing staff involved one of four residents "reviewed for dignity. This deficient practice may result in feelings of frustration, embarrassment and may lower self-esteem."
The incident involved observation of a resident who "was noted to be lying in bed naked except for an adult brief. Blankets were at the foot of the bed and [the resident] was visible to staff, residents, and visitors passing by the room, due to the door being open."
The investigator interviewed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) providing the resident care at 11:31 AM, a few minutes after the observation of the resident. The CNA stated that the resident "was on a lot of [medication including a narcotic pain medication] and that was causing increased confusion. [The CNA] was unable to answer why the bedroom door was open and the resident was visible and stated that he spaced it and forgot to close the door."
The investigator interviewed a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) a few minutes later who said that "the privacy curtain in the resident's room should have been pulled closed and that the resident being visible and naked was unacceptable." During an interview with the Director of Nursing four minutes later, it was stated that the resident's "room was a private room and, as a result, did not have a privacy curtain. She stated that the room door had been opened because the resident was becoming increasingly confused and was at risk for falls."
"Upon learning the resident was naked and visible to people passing by," the Director "stated that the door should have been closed and that she would speak to the Maintenance Director about getting a privacy curtain added." The investigator reviewed the facility policy titled: Resident Dignity Policy dated February 2017 that reads in part:
"Purpose: To maintain the dignity of all residents, to promote, encourage, support and enhance the residents' self-esteem, to promote the sense of self-worth, to assist with respecting … the resident's rights."
"Policy: The location will promote the care for residents in a manner and an environment that maintains or enhances each resident's dignity and respect and recognition of his or her individuality. Ideas for maintaining a resident's dignity may include but not limited to: Respecting resident private space and property (examples, including closing doors as requested by the resident; not moving or inspecting resident's personal possessions without permission)."
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 17, 2018, the state investigative team documented that the nursing home had failed to "ensure an injury of an unknown source was reported within two hours to the State survey agency." This incident involved one resident "reviewed for an investigation of an injury of unknown origin. If the facility fails to report injuries of unknown origin [promptly] to the State Licensing Authority, corrective measures may not be acted on, and the facility is unable to assure residents are free from abuse or neglect."
If you suspect caregivers, employees or other residents victimized your loved one while a resident at Good Samaritan Society - Four Corners Village, call the New Mexico nursing home abuse attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 today. Our network of attorneys fights aggressively for San Juan County victims of mistreatment living in long-term facilities including nursing homes in Aztec. Our knowledgeable attorneys offer legal representation to patients with cases that involve abuse and neglect happening in public and private nursing facilities.
Contact us now to schedule a free case review to discuss how to obtain justice and resolve a financial compensation claim. Let us fight aggressively on your behalf to ensure your rights are protected.
Our network of attorneys accepts all nursing home personal injury claims. abuse lawsuits, medical malpractice cases, and wrongful death suits through a contingency fee agreement. This arrangement postpones the requirement to make a payment to our network of attorneys until after we have successfully resolved your claim for compensation through a negotiated out of court settlement or jury trial award. We provide every client a "No Win/No-Fee" Guarantee, meaning you will owe us nothing if we cannot obtain compensation on your behalf. Let our attorneys begin working on your behalf today to ensure your family receives adequate compensation from those who caused your harm. All information you share with our law offices will remain confidential.
Sources:
Carl R. Wilander, Esq.
Licensed in New Mexico
Chicago Nursing Home Injury Lawyer Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home