Some statistics show that more than one million Americans currently live in nursing homes. Many of these patients are our mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, children, and friends. Families often relocate their loved one into a nursing home knowing that they will receive the best care and improve quality of life in a safe environment.Unfortunately, mistreatment still occurs in many nursing homes, including those in Lake County. If your loved one was injured or died prematurely while residing in a nursing home, contact the Indiana Nursing Home Law Center attorneys now for immediate legal intervention. Let our team of lawyers work on your family’s behalf to ensure you receive monetary compensation for your damages.
This nursing facility is a "for profit" Medicare and Medicaid-participating home providing services to residents of Whiting and Lake County, Indiana. The 80-certified bed long-term care center is located at:
1000 114th St
Whiting, Indiana 46394
(219) 659-2770
Hammond-Whiting Care Center
In addition to providing around the clock skilled nursing care, Hammond-Whiting Care Center offers other services. Additional focused care includes inpatient and outpatient rehab, long-term care, postoperative recovery, and short-term care.
The investigators and surveyors for Medicare and the state of Indiana have the legal authority to impose monetary fines are denied payment for Medicare services any time a nursing home is cited for serious violations of regulations and rules.
Within the last three years, federal investigators imposed a monetary fine against Hammond-Whiting Care Center for $8,775 on May 19, 2017, citing substandard care. This nursing facility also received seventeen complaints and self-reported two serious issues over the last three years that resulted in violation citations.
Additional documentation about fines and penalties can be found on the Indiana Nursing Home Report Cards Website.
The state of Indiana and the federal government regularly updates its long-term care home database system with complete details of all deficiencies, citations, and violations.
According to Medicare, this facility maintains an overall rating of one out of five stars, including two out of five stars concerning health inspections, one out of five stars for staffing issues and three out of five stars for quality measures.
According to state surveyors, “the facility failed to properly notify the resident’s responsible party related to a significant change in health status and treatment.” The survey team interviewed a family member who indicated that the resident’s spouse “was not always notified when her husband’s medications or treatments were changed.”
The surveyors reviewed a February 5, 2018 Nursing Note that indicated “new orders received and noted for skin prep to bilateral heels every shift as well as Prevalon Boots while in bed for preventative. The resident was aware of new orders and the staff was aware of new orders.” However, “there was no documentation the resident’s responsible party was made aware of the new treatment orders.”
A March 5, 2018 Nursing Note indicated that the Physician provided new orders. The following day, the Nursing Note indicated a “single lumen in place by mobile x-ray. There was no documentation the resident’s responsible party was notified” of the order.
The nursing home “failed to ensure an allegation of physical abuse was thoroughly investigated and reported related to a red area observed on the resident’s forehead area.” A review of the resident’s MDS (Minimum Data Set) Quarterly Assessment completed on September 14, 2018, indicated that the “resident was unable to complete an interview to assess his cognitive level. No behaviors or rejections of care occurred.”
The resident’s October 18, 2018 (3:41 PM) Nursing Progress Notes documented that the resident was asleep in bed but arouses easily. There is “a dark red pen cap size mole to the left side of his head. Below the eyebrow in the left side [is a] 1.5 cm x 2.0 cm lump with red markings noted. The resident had multiple fined razor cuts to the upper lip and lower chin areas. The resident has left-sided weakness and paralysis to the left hand and arm.”
The resident’s daughter had reported to the facility staff that “there were concerns with her father’s shower that morning. The staff assessed the resident and a dime size reddened area between his hairline and left eyebrow was observed.” The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) who was providing the resident care “was suspended when the allegation was made.”
Do you believe that your loved one was the victim of abuse or neglect while living at Hammond-Whiting Care Center? Contact the Indiana nursing home abuse attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 for immediate legal intervention. We represent Lake County victims of abuse and neglect in all areas including Whiting.
Talk to our legal team today about your case through an initial, free claim consultation. We provide all our clients a 100% “No Win/No-Fee” Guarantee, meaning if we cannot secure financial compensation on your behalf, you owe us nothing. All information you share with our law offices will remain confidential.
Sources:
Attorney Jeffrey D. Powless
Licensed in Indiana
Chicago Nursing Home Injury Attorney Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home