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Petersen Health Care Nursing Home Sample Negligence Verdicts & Lawsuits
Petersen Health Care at a Glance
Website | PetersenHealthCare.net |
Number of Facilities | 10 |
Headquarters | 830 W. Trailcreek Dr. Peoria, IL 61614 |
Year founded | 1974 |
Type of Care Provided | Alzheimer's Care Memory Care Nursing Care Nursing Homes Assisted Living Independent Living Supportive Living |
As of the end of 2015, Petersen Health Care was the 18th largest nursing home chain in the country based on the number of beds in its facilities. At that time, Petersen controlled 102 nursing homes and had annual operating revenue exceeding $300 million. These nursing homes contained a total of 7,250 beds. Over half of the operating revenue of the facility came from Medicaid. The business is family-owned and the current CEO is Mark Petersen.
Chronic Neglect Problems at Peterson Nursing Homes
Gaps and deficiencies in care are not limited to nursing homes operated by public entities or private equity funds. Even privately held nursing homes are subject to the profit motive, where owners deliberately keep the staff on hand low in order to maximize their profits. When nursing homes do not provide adequate care, injuries among residents increase since skilled nursing care helps prevent things such as falls and infections. These issues impact Petersen Health since a number of its nursing homes have received low-quality ratings from Medicare and have been fined by the federal government.There have been a number of lawsuits against Petersen Health Care for a variety of issues that have affected the life and health of residents. In particular, the chain appears to have an issue with pressure ulcer care for its residents. As described below, the chain settled three cases within three years in which the nursing home was alleged to have provided inadequate pressure ulcer care.
- Lawsuits Against Petersen Health for Inadequate Pressure Ulcer Care
- Lawsuits Against Petersen for Falls
- Lawsuits Against Petersen for Improper Discharge
Lawsuits Against Petersen Health for Inadequate Pressure Ulcer Care
Settlement ($125,000) in Illinois – The resident (plaintiff) developed pressure ulcers that ultimately worsened and led to their death. The wrongful death lawsuit accused the Peterson Health facility (defendant) of failing to provide adequate skincare that would prevent the formation of the ulcers. Once the ulcers had developed, the plaintiff alleged that there was not an appropriate care and treatment plan for the ulcers, in part because the practical nurse was not sufficiently trained. According to court documents, the staff did not follow the doctor’s treatment orders with regard to the pressure ulcers and did not provide timely notification to the physician of changes in the resident’s condition.
Settlement ($50,000) in Illinois – The resident developed pressure ulcers that became infected. While the nursing home argued that the resident was the cause of her own injuries since she did not listen to the medical staff, the estate argued that the pressure ulcers resulted from a lack of a plan and adequate care. In addition, the lawsuit claimed that the resident was malnourished because she was not properly fed while at the facility. As a result, she lost an excessive amount of weight. As a result, the resident gradually lost the ability to perform daily activities.
Settlement ($50,000) in Illinois – a 43-year old man developed pressure ulcers and a subsequent infection which caused his death. The family alleged the nursing home lacked a care plan and did not adequately prevent his pressure ulcers from developing. Once the ulcers formed, the nursing home allegedly did not properly supervise his care to treat the ulcers. The staff needs to notify a physician once a resident develops pressure ulcers and then follow the doctor’s orders and the family claimed that the staff did not do so.
Lawsuit Filed in Illinois – The family sued the nursing home for wrongful death after the resident died from injuries sustained in a fall. The fall was the last in a series of falls for the resident at the nursing home. The resident suffered from Alzheimer’s and was a risk for falls. The lawsuit alleges that the nursing home installed a bed alarm, but that the alarm was often inoperable. The resident suffered a total of five falls in a two-month span. When the resident fell for the final time, they were found unresponsive, face down and bleeding on the floor of their room. The resident died two days after that.
Lawsuits Against Petersen for Nursing Home Falls
2018 – Lawsuit Filed in Illinois – The resident was admitted to the nursing home to recover from two previous falls suffered outside of the facility. According to the lawsuit, the resident then fell three more times while at the facility. The injuries ultimately resulted in the resident requiring a higher level of care for daily activities. The worst fall resulted in a fractured femur (the main bone in the upper leg) and a brain bleed. The lawsuit claims that the facility did not have the appropriate fall prevention measures and other general neglect. When a resident is at risk for falls, the nursing home must have a fall prevention and care plan which must be updated after the resident falls.
Lawsuits Against Petersen for Improper Discharge
Lawsuit Filed in Illinois – A former resident filed suit after he claimed that he was wrongfully discharged from the nursing home. According to the lawsuit, the resident was discharged from the facility and moved into an unfurnished apartment and was given only $30 and four days’ worth of medication. Nursing homes are not allowed to simply dump residents without making extensive efforts to find them new homes. Here, nine days after the resident was discharged, he was admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure and required a defibrillator.
Criminal Conviction of an Employee for Murder
Media Report and Arrest – A Petersen Health Care employee was arrested and charged with murder in the beating death of a resident. The employee beat and choked the employee after he repeatedly fell out of bed. When the resident was admitted to the hospital, he had bruising on his neck that was indicative of the fact that he was choked. At the hospital, he identified the employee as his attacker. He died a month later and the employee was arrested after an autopsy. The employee pled guilty and was sentenced to 4 ½ years in prison.
Was Your Family Member Mistreated at a Peterson Health Nursing Home? Get Legal Help Now
If your loved one has suffered an injury while residing and being cared for by Petersen Health, contact the attorneys at the Nursing Home Law Center to schedule a free case assessment. We have a wealth of experience in standing up to Illinois nursing homes in cases that involve the mistreatment of their residents. Call us today at (800) 726-9565 to have an in-depth discussion of your potential case against Petersen Health.
For additional information on Peterson Health Care facilities, review the pages below.
Illinois
- Aledo Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Arcola Health Care Center
- Aspen Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Batavia Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Bement Health Care Center
- Benton Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Casey Healthcare Center
- Charleston Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Cornerstone Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Decatur Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Eastview Terrace Health Care Center
- Effingham Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- El Paso Health Care Center
- Farmer City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Flora Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Fondulac Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Illini Heritage Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Jonesboro Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- LaHarpe Davier Health Care Center
- Marigold Rehabilitation Health Care Center
- Mason Point Health Care Center
- Newman Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Nokomis Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- North Aurora Care Center
- Palm Terrace of Mattoon Health Care Center
- Pleasant View Rehabilitation Health Care Center
- Prairie City Rehabilitation Health Care Center
- Prairie Rose Health Care Center
- Robings Manor Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Rochelle Gardens Care Center
- Rochelle Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Rock River Gardens Health Care Center
- Sandwich Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Sauk Valley Senior Living Health Care Center
- Shelbyville Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- South Elgin Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Toulon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Vandalia Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Watseka Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- White Oak Rehabilitation and Health Care Center