Families often entrust the nursing home staff to provide their loved one the highest level of hygiene assistance and health care. Unfortunately, many patients become the victim of abuse or neglect when mistreated by caregivers, visitors, employees or other residents. Some suffer lifelong physical, mental, emotional, or sexual harm or develop preventable conditions including facility-acquired bedsores.
If your loved one was injured while residing in a Ben Hill County nursing facility, contact the Georgia Nursing Home Law Center attorneys now for immediate legal help. We can begin working on your case today to ensure that your family receives monetary recovery for your damages.
This long-term care center is a "for-profit" 167-certified bed home providing cares to residents of Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County, Georgia. The Medicare and Medicaid-participating facility is located at:
176 Lincoln Ave
Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750
(229) 423-5621
Both the state of Georgia and federal agencies penalize nursing homes by denying reimbursement payments from Medicare or imposing monetary fines anytime the facility is cited for a serious violation of established regulations that harm or could harm residents.
Over the last three years, federal investigators imposed three monetary fines against Life Care Center, citing substandard care. These penalties include a $4925 fine on March 17, 2017, a $14,045 fine on March 17, 2017, and a $12,188 fine on January 14, 2016 for a total of $31,158. Also, Medicare denied payment for services rendered on March 17, 2017.
The nursing home received thirteen formally filed complaints that all resulted in citations. Additional information concerning the facility can be reviewed on the Georgia Nursing Home Reporting Website.
Information on every intermediate and long-term care home in the state can be reviewed on government-owned and operated database websites including the Georgia Department of Public Health and Medicare.gov.
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 two out of five stars for quality measures.
Failure to Provide and Implement an Infection Protection and Control Program - citation date September 13, 2018
The investigators noted the facility "failed to ensure infection control practices were maintained during a finger stick glucose checks for one resident." Observations were made of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) performing a finger stick glucose check while placing "a glucometer, disposable lancet, alcohol prep pad, a pair of disposable gloves and two 4" x 4" gauze on the [resident's] bed."
After completing the glucose check, the LPN gathered up the supplies and walked out into the hallway "while wearing the dirty gloves and threw away the supplies in the trash can located in the medication card." It was only then that the LPN "removed the dirty gloves and sanitized her hands."
Failure to Ensure Residents Receive Proper Treatment to Prevent New Bedsores or Heal Existing Pressure Sores - citation date February 22, 2018
The facility "failed to accurately stage a pressure ulcer for two residents." The investigators reviewed documentation that shows the resident was "admitted to the facility with a pressure ulcer to the right gluteal cleft. Licensed nursing staff routinely assessed the pressure ulcer and documented the assessment on the Wound Assessment Progress Note" describing it as "having tan slough" on numerous dates between January 22, 2018, and February 12, 2018.
However, "the report also documented the pressure ulcer was a Stage II" which was inaccurate. During an interview with the Treatment Nurse, it was "confirmed that the pressure ulcer was covered with tan slough."
The Treatment Nurse also confirmed, "that the pressure ulcer was identified as a Deep Tissue Injury and then it opened." However, "the pressure ulcer continued to be assessed as a Deep Tissue Injury. The assessment of the pressure ulcer as a Deep Tissue Injury would no longer be accurate with the presence of an open wound bed."
This deficiency could cause the resident to receive the wrong type of medication that could compromise the healing of the wound.
Failure to Ensure There Is a Pest Control Program That Prevents or Deals with Mice, Insects and Other Pests - citation date May 31, 2018
The nursing home "failed to maintain an effective pest control program that controls flies on three of four halls." Observations were made of "multiple flies" crawling "on the resident's bed, coffee cups, on top of his refrigerator and the resident. The resident was attempting to [brush] the flies away but was observed to have limited use of his upper extremities." The resident stated that "these flies are aggravating is hell."
Do you believe that your loved one is the victim of mistreatment, abuse or neglect while living at Life Care Center? Contact the Georgia nursing home abuse lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 for immediate legal intervention. We represent Ben Hill County victims of abuse and neglect in all areas including Fitzgerald.
Our legal team offers every client a free, initial case consultation. Additionally, we offer a 100% "No Win/No-Fee" Guarantee. This promise means you do not owe us anything until we have secured monetary compensation on your behalf. All information you share with our law offices will remain confidential.
Attorney Lance D. Lourie
Licensed in Georgia
Fitzgerald Nursing Home Injury Lawyer Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home