Placing a loved one in a nursing home can be a challenging and painful experience. Families must often entrust the care of a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling or child in a facility to ensure that they are treated with compassion, respect, and dignity in a safe environment. Unfortunately, many nursing home residents are victimized through abuse or neglect.
If you suspect that your loved one was mistreated while living in a Cook County nursing facility, contact the Illinois Nursing Home Law Center attorneys for immediate legal intervention. Our team of Chicago nursing home abuse attorneys has successfully resolve cases just like yours. Let us begin working on your case today to ensure your family receives adequate financial compensation to recover your damages.
This Medicare/Medicaid-participating nursing center is a "for profit" home providing services to residents of Chicago and Cook County, Illinois. The 313-certified bed long-term care (LTC) home is located at:
7200 North Sheridan Road
Chicago, Illinois, 60626
(773) 973-7200
In addition to providing 24/7 skilled nursing care, Mosaic of Lakeshore Health Care Center offers other services including:
Federal and state investigators can penalize any nursing home that has violated rules and regulations that resulted in harm or could have harmed a resident. These penalties include imposing monetary fines and denying payment for Medicare services.
Within the last three years, Mosaic of Lakeshore Health Care Center has received sixteen formally filed complaints due to substandard care. Additional information about penalties and fines can be reviewed on the Illinois Department of Public Health Nursing Home Reporting Website concerning this nursing facility.
A list of filed complaints, safety concerns, opened investigations, health violations, incident inquiries and dangerous hazards on statewide long-term care homes can be reviewed on database sites including the Illinois Department of Public Health and Medicare.gov. Many families use this data to determine the best facility to place a loved one who requires the highest level of skilled health care and hygiene assistance.
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 two out of five stars for quality measures. The Cook County neglect attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center have found serious deficiencies and safety concerns at Mosaic of Lakeshore Health Care Center that include:
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated October 18, 2018, the state investigator documented the facility’s failure to “notify the physician that medications were not administered as ordered to one of thirty-five residents.”
The investigators reviewed a resident’s hospice Medication Administration Record (MAR) Assessment and Physician Order Sheet that confirmed that the resident was to receive multiple orders of eyedrops. However, there was no documentation the eyedrops had been administered.”
The surveyors interviewed the facility Director of Nursing who said “that if medications are unavailable, we need to call a pharmacy and let the physician know that the medication was missed. It would be documented in the MAR and Nurse’s Notes.”
The investigative team reviewed the resident’s Progress Notes. However, “there was no documentation that the physician was notified regarding the prescribed by medications that were not administered.”
The surveyors asked the physician if they were notified of the eye medications that were not administered as ordered. The physician stated, “I do not remember. I do not know for sure.”
The investigators then reviewed the facility’s policy and procedure titled: Medication Management that was revised in March 2016 that reads in part:
“If the drug is withheld, refuse or given in a time other than the scheduled time, the individual administering the medication shall document the circumstances and any notifications (as indicated).”
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated October 18, 2018, the state survey team documented that the facility had failed to “assess two residents for the knowledge and ability to safely and accurately self-administer medication before permitting [the resident’s] to do so without supervision.” This deficient practice by the nursing staff applies to two residents who “were self-administering medication without [a physician’s] order or supervision.”
Documentation shows that at approximately 10:55 AM on October 15, 2018, a resident “was noted in the room sitting in the bed and on the overbed table was … an injectable pain medication.” The resident “explained that the physician from the community hospital prescribed the medication, and [they were] using it because at times the nurses do not come in to give [the resident] the medicine on time as ordered.”
The surveyors asked the Assistant Director Nurses what was going on. The Assistant Director said, “I am not sure that the medication was ordered [for the resident or that the resident] is on a self-medication program.” The Assistant Director “was unable to present any documentation for [the medication] and an order for the medication to be kept at the bedside.”
On the same day at 11:10 AM, the surveyors observed a resident’s “overbed table containing one bottle that was labeled artificial tears – alcohol 1.4% eye drops.” That resident said “Yes, it is mine and I use it all the time for my eyes. On the windowsill was also noted five tablets and a packet labeled Bonine [an antihistamine to treat vertigo and motion sickness].”
The surveyors brought the problem to the attention of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) assigned to the resident’s care who said that the patient “wasn’t on a self-administration program and all the medications are in the medication cart.” The LPN said that the resident “muster brought those from the store and was using a without anyone knowing.” The resident had told the LPN “I use them, and they are mine.”
The surveyors reviewed the resident’s Physician Order Sheet that showed that artificial tears and the antihistamine “were ordered with no order instructions for the resident to keep at the bedside.” The investigators reviewed the resident’s Medical Record that “did not show any self-administration of medication assessment and none was presented.”
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated October 18, 2018, a state investigator noted the nursing home's failure to “follow standard infection control practices to prevent the spread of infection. This failure has the potential to affect two of thirty-five residents.”
The state investigators interviewed a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) on the morning of October 16, 2018, who said that the resident “was on contact isolation [for a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus] infection.” Observations were made of the LPN at that time who “donned a government-owned and entered [the patient’s] room.”
The LPN administered the 9:00 AM medications to the resident “without wearing gloves. The medication cup and the water glass were both handled by [the LPN] after being held by [the patient].” The surveyor inquired if the LPN “was wearing gloves.” The LPN stated “No. I thought it wasn’t patient contact.”
The surveyor then inquired “about the Personal Protective Equipment for contact isolation.” The LPN said “gloves and gown.” The investigative team reviewed the facility’s policy and procedures titled Infection Control and Prevention revised December 2015 and the Medication Management policy revised in March 2016 that read in part:
“Educating the staff about various aspects of infection control such a standard and transmission-based isolation precautions.”
“Staff shall follow established infection control procedures (e.g., isolation precautions, gloves) when these apply to the administration of medications.”
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated October 18, 2018, a surveyor documented that the nursing home had failed to “resolve pest infestation to maintain pest control with its building. This failure has the potential to affect the 243 residents residing in the facility.”
The state investigative team interviewed a resident at 10:55 AM on October 15, 2018, who said “I have a rodent infestation. I have caught five mice in my room. The surveyors observed a road and trapped in [the patient’s] room.”
A couple of hours later, another resident said “we have mice in the rooms. If they could just get rid of those things, it would be great.” A third resident stated to the surveyors about thirty minutes later that “this place is infested.” A fourth resident said “we have got some mice running around. We have mousetraps in her room. We need new ones. This place is infested. We see them outside and receive them all the time.”
A few minutes later, the surveyor observed: “two dead mice in two separate traps under the event next to [a resident’s] room.” A fifth resident stated “I hear the midnight. The running along the baseboard. If they could do something about these mice. One night when the nurse brought my medicine in, she ran out screaming because she saw a mouse.”
The state investigative team reviewed the facility’s Resident Council Meeting Minutes dated August 13, 2018, that shows that a “2nd-floor resident stated she saw a mouse in her room. Trapped subsequently placed in the resident’s room.” A review of the Sentry Pest Control Service Inspection Report dated October 8, 2018 “documents that mice droppings were found in for rooms on the 4th floor and eleven rooms on the 3rd floor.”
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated January 25, 2017, a state surveyor documented that the facility had failed to “secured two portable oxygen tanks and failed to fill smaller oxygen tanks in designated areas for two of six residents reviewed for specialty care.”
The state investigator said that during an initial tour on January 22, 2017, a resident “was observed in the room of a large, blue topped liquid oxygen tank between the two beds in the room at the head of the beds.” The resident “also had an oxygen concentrator at the bedside and a portable oxygen-carrying unit hanging on [their] walker opposite of the foot of the bed.” The resident “was asked if all three oxygen tanks were used by [them].”
The resident said that “the large liquid oxygen tank is used to fill the portable oxygen-carrying units.” At noon the following day, the resident said “the large liquid oxygen tank had been there for about three weeks [saying that] nurses filled the portable oxygen-carrying unit from the larger unit in [their] room, which [they like] because it is hard to get the staff to help fill the portable tank when the big tank was down the hall.” The resident said that sometimes they were “not allowed to leave the room because of waiting to get the tank refilled.”
A Licensed Practical Nurse/Nursing Supervisor confirmed that “the portable tanks need to be secured or placed in a holder to avoid falling.” The supervisor “removed the tanks from the room. The investigators reviewed the facility’s policy titled: Fire Safety Precautions that reads in part:
“Oxygen cylinders must be stored in racks with chains, sturdy portable carts, or approved stands. Oxygen cylinders should never be left free standing. Oxygen cylinders shall not be stored in any resident room or living area. Oxygen cylinders in use shall be on approved carts or stands and must be attached to the residents’ beds.”
Do you believe that your loved one has suffered injury or harm while living at Mosaic of Lakeshore Health Care Center? If so, call the Illinois nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 today. Our network of attorneys fights aggressively on behalf of Cook County victims of mistreatment living in long-term facilities including nursing homes in Chicago. Contact us now to schedule a free case review to discuss how to obtain justice and resolve a financial compensation claim.
Our seasoned attorneys provide legal representation to long-term care home residents who have been harmed by negligence and abuse. Our legal team has years of experience in successfully resolving claims for compensation against caregivers who must be held accountable. We accept every case involving nursing home abuse, wrongful death or personal injury through a contingency fee arrangement. This agreement postpones the need to make a payment to pay for legal services until after your case is successfully resolved through a jury trial award or negotiated out of court settlement.
Our network of attorneys offers every client a “No Win/No-Fee” Guarantee, meaning if we are unable to resolve your case successfully, you owe us nothing. We can provide legal representation starting today to ensure your family is adequately compensated for your damages. All information you share with our law offices will remain confidential.
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Licensed in Illinois
Chicago Nursing Home Injury Attorney Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home