Many families have no other option than to turn a loved one’s care over to medical professionals in nursing homes to ensure they receive the highest level of care and hygiene assistance. Unfortunately, there has been a significant rise in the number of abuse and neglect cases involving residents and Madison County nursing homes.
If you suspect your loved one was being mistreated while residing in a rehabilitation center, assisted living home, or nursing facility, contact the Illinois Nursing Home Law Center attorneys for immediate legal intervention. Our team of lawyers has successfully resolved cases just like yours. Let us handle your compensation claim and use the law on your behalf to hold those responsible for the harm legally and financially accountable.
This long-term care (LTC) facility is a 106-certified bed "for profit" home providing services and cares to residents of Wood River and Madison County, Illinois. The Medicare/Medicaid-approved center is located at:
393 Edwardsville Road
Wood River, Illinois, 62095
(618) 259-4111
In addition to providing around-the-clock skilled nursing care, Integrity Health Care of Wood River provides other services that include:
Federal agencies and the State of Illinois have a legal responsibility to monitor every nursing facility nationwide. If serious violations are identified, the governments can impose monetary fines or deny payments through Medicare if the resident was harmed or could have been harmed by the deficiency.
Within the last three years, investigators imposed a monetary fine of $12,500 against Integrity Healthcare of Wood River on August 24, 2017, due to substandard care. Also, the facility received thirty-five formally filed complaints that all resulted in citations. Additional information about penalties and fines can be found on the Illinois Department of Public Health Nursing Home Reporting Website concerning this nursing facility.
The state of Illinois and the federal government routinely update their long-term care home database systems. These agencies provide a detailed list of all filed complaints, dangerous hazards, health violations, safety concerns, incident inquiries, and opened investigations. This information can be found on numerous sites including the IL Department of Public Health and Medicare.gov.
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 four out of five stars for quality measures. The Madison County neglect attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center have found serious deficiencies and safety concerns at Integrity Healthcare of Wood River that include:
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated August 10, 2017, the state investigators noted that the nursing home had “failed to provide a Poorly Restraint Assessment for one of one resident reviewed for restraints.”
The investigators reviewed the resident’s MDS (Minimum Data Set) Assessment that identified the patient has “severe cognitive deficits” and uses restraints. The resident’s Care Plan dated June 12, 2017, revealed: “release seatbelt when up in a wheelchair, release at meals and every two hours if safe.”
The resident’s Physical Restraint/Non-Restraint Device Quarterly Review revealed that the assessment was done on April 4, 2017. However, the resident’s “medical record had no physical restraint/nonrestraint device quarterly review” done when required.”
The facility’s Regional Nurse stated just after noon on August 9, 2017, that “she realized restraints needed assessments every three months and she is unsure why [the patient’s assessment] was not done.” The investigators reviewed the facility’s policy titled: Physical Restraint dated August 2017 that reads in part:
“The resident’s response to the use of the restraint and goals identified in the plan of care will be documented at least quarterly and with a significant change in condition. Documentation will reflect attempts toward restraint reduction and least restrictive restraint utilization.”
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated October 3, 2018, the state investigators documented that the facility had failed to “provide supervision, assistive devices, and effective interventions to prevent accidents.” The deficient practice by the nursing staff involved one of seven residents “reviewed for falls and accidents.”
The surveyors observed a resident on the morning of September 26, 2018 “sitting up in a high back wheelchair in his room.” The patient “was positioned with his back to his bed, and the call light was on the floor.” The resident “stated he had a lot of falls trying to get up and go to the bathroom [saying that] sometimes it takes a long time for the staff to answer the call lights, and I cannot wait that long.”
The investigators reviewed the facility’s Incident and Accident Reports documented between September 24, 2017, and September 21, 2018, that shows that the resident “had twenty-six falls. The reports documented [that the resident] fell from his wheelchair, bed and high back wheelchair. Of the twenty-six falls, thirteen are from self-transferring to urinate or go to the bathroom.”
The reports documented that on September 24, 2017, at 6:20 PM, the resident “was standing to use his urinal and fell. The intervention was for Therapy to evaluate and treat.” A subsequent October 7, 2017, Incident and Accident Report revealed that the resident “fell while transferring himself to the toilet from his wheelchair. His sustained an abrasion to the left side of the back. The intervention was for therapy to screen and to provide education to the resident.”
The Incident and Accident Report dated October 21, 2017, shows that the resident “fell in the 100/200 Hall shower room attempting to self-transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet. The intervention was for Therapy to evaluate.” On October 31, 2017, at 12:20 AM, a facility report indicates that the resident “fell while attempting to use the urinal. It documented “the resident] struck his head on the door in his room. The intervention was to order lapse in conduct a medication review and to educate [the patient] on using the call light for assistance.”
Additional falls were documented on thirteen occasions between December 23, 2017, and September 1, 2018, that all involved falls that resulted in injuries and abrasions. The resident’s Care Plan dated September 24, 2018, revealed that the resident “was at risk for falls related to a history of falls, decreased safety awareness and impulsiveness with attempts to stand and self-transfer without the assistance of staff. It documented that [the resident] required to assist for transfers and mobility related to tasks despite repeated direction/education.”
During an interview with a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), it was revealed that the resident “was alert and oriented, but sometimes forgetful. He states he knows [the resident] had fallen many times and that the staff is to check on him frequently and remind him to call for help.”
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated March 6, 2018, the state investigative team noted that the nursing home had “failed to promptly obtain urine specimens for culture and sensitivity, resulting in a delay of treatment for one of three residents reviewed for urinary tract infection and antibiotic therapy.”
The survey team interviewed a Nurse Practitioner just after noon on February 27, 2018, who stated that she had an order to Complete Blood Count, Basic Metabolic Panel, and Urinalysis with Culture and Sensitivity for a resident “due to their altered mental status.
During an interview with the resident’s Primary Physician on February 27, 2018, it was revealed that “he was notified by the facility nursing staff that [his patient’s] urinalysis specimen had not been obtained from November 28, 2017 Physician Order.” The doctor said that “he then wrote for a urinalysis, straight catheter, Culture and Sensitivity [test] if indicated on December 1, 2017.”
The investigators interviewed the facility Administrator and Director of Nursing who both said that “they were unable to provide any information for the delay in obtaining [the resident’s] urine specimen that was ordered on November 28, 2017.”
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated February 14, 2018, the state surveyors noted that the nursing home “failed to notify the family of a hospital transfer for one of three residents reviewed for a change in condition.” The investigators reviewed the resident’s Progress Note dated January 19, 2018, that showed that “a nurse heard someone yelling out and found [a resident] lying face down.” The Progress Note documents that “the nurse called 911 and started chest compressions. The Progress Note documents [the resident] was transported to the hospital.”
However, the investigators noted that the Progress Note “failed to document that the family was notified of a change in condition and the transfer to the hospital.” As a part of the investigation, the surveyors interviewed the Director of Nursing who said that “she would expect staff to notify the family of a change of condition/transfer to the hospital.”
The investigators reviewed the facility’s policy titled: Change in a Resident’s Condition or Status that reads in part:
“Unless otherwise instructed by the resident, the nurse will notify the resident’s representative when it is necessary to transfer the resident to a hospital/treatment center.”
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated October 3, 2018, the state investigator noted that the nursing home had “failed to have justification for the use of antipsychotic medication.” The facility also “failed to identify/assess and monitor behaviors warranting the use of the medication and failed to ensure reductions based on qualitative and quantitative analysis for two of seven residents reviewed for unnecessary medications.”
The investigator stated that “this failure resulted in [one resident] exhibiting an overall decline in activities of daily living and gradual weight loss.” The investigative team reviewed the facility’s policy and procedure titled: Antipsychotic Medication Use dated November 2017 that reads in part:
“Antipsychotic Medications may be considered for residents with dementia, but only after medical, physical, functional, psychological, emotional psychiatric, social and environmental causes of behavioral symptoms have been identified and addressed. Antipsychotic medications will be prescribed at the lowest possible dosage for the shortest period … and are subject to gradual dose reductions and re-review.”
“Interpretation and intervention residents will only receive antipsychotic medications when necessary to treat specific conditions for which they are indicated and effective. The attending physician and other staff will gather and document information to clarify a resident’s behavior, mood, function, medical condition, specific symptoms and risks to the resident and others.”
Do you suspect that your loved one has suffered harm through abuse, neglect or mistreatment while living at Integrity Healthcare of Wood River? If so, call the Illinois nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 now for legal assistance. Our network of attorneys fights aggressively on behalf of Madison County victims of mistreatment living in long-term facilities including nursing homes in Wood River. Contact us now to schedule a free case review to discuss how to obtain justice and resolve a financial compensation claim.
Our knowledgeable attorneys have years of experience in handling cases that involve nursing home abuse occurring in private and public nursing facilities. Our network of attorneys accepts all nursing home abuse lawsuits, personal injury claims, medical malpractice cases, and wrongful death suits through a contingency fee arrangement. This agreement postpones the need to pay for our legal services until after our legal team has resolved your claim for compensation through a jury trial award or negotiated settlement out of court.
Our network of attorneys provides every client a “No Win/No-Fee” Guarantee, meaning if we are unsuccessful at resolving your financial compensation case, you owe us nothing. Let our network of attorneys start working on your case today to ensure your family receives the financial compensation they deserve for your harm. All information you share with our law offices will remain confidential.
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Licensed in Illinois
Chicago Nursing Home Injury Lawyer Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home