Any mistreatment involving a nursing home resident can constitute abuse or neglect if it occurs at the hands of a caregiver, another resident, family member, friend, employee or facility. All nursing homes are legally bound to protect every resident in a safe environment around the clock. Any mistreatment could be the result of minimal standards for the safety, care, health, and comfort of the resident. Our nursing home neglect affiliated attorneys in South Carolina have represented many families whose loved one was injured, harmed or died prematurely through wrongful death by seeking justice on their behalf and ensure they are adequately compensated for their damages and losses. We can help your family too.
If your loved one has been mistreated at Arbour Health Care Center, contact our South Carolina nursing home abuse lawyers.
This Long-Term Care Center is a for-profit 148-certified bed Home providing cares to residents of Georgetown and Georgetown County, South Carolina. The Facility is located at:
901 Maple Street
Georgetown, SC 29440
(843) 546-6101
The investigators from the federal government penalize caregiving facilities identified with severe violations of nursing home rules and regulations by withholding payment for Medicare services or imposing monetary fines. The higher the penalty usually means the worse offense. Within the last three years, the federal government fined Prince George Health Care Center three times including a $13,000 fine on September 18, 2015, a $126,100 fine on March 28, 2016, and a $171,430 fine on March 30, 2017. Additional documentation about penalties and fines can be found on the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Website concerning Prince George Health Care Center.
Families can visit the South Carolina Department of Public Health and Medicare.gov websites to obtain a complete list of all dangerous hazards, filed complaints, safety concerns, health violations, opened investigations, and incident inquiries. The regularly updated information can be used to make a well-informed decision on which Long Term Care facilities in the community provide the highest level of care.
According to Medicare, the facility maintains an overall rating of one out of five stars. This rating includes one out of five stars concerning health inspections, three out of five stars for staffing issues and four out of five stars for quality measures. The Georgetown County neglect attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center have reviewed numerous deficiencies and safety concerns at Prince George Health Care Center that includes:
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated March 30, 2017, a state investigator noted the deficient practice concerning the nursing home's failure to "provide interventions to ensure the safety of residents assessed for potential elopement." The deficient practice by the nursing staff involved a resident who "successfully eloped [wandered away] through a resident room window. This not only has the potential to affect the two residents reviewed for accidents in the course of the survey … but also, the remaining 18 residents that wear the Wanderguard system due to an elopement risk."
The state investigator reviewed the resident's Care Plan that revealed behavioral symptoms of the resident being "at risk for elopement." The facility set up a goal to ensure that the resident "will wander safely within specified boundaries [and] will not have any successful elopements." The resident's progress Notes for December 31, 2016, documented that the resident "likes to roam halls (with and without a walker) and visit others. Skilled services provided for nursing and rehabilitation…" One documentation revealed that the resident was up all night "taking off clothes and putting back on" and when checking on the resident, was found not to be in the room but found in Room 103 after taking another resident's blanket and dragging it behind him. The staff was unable to redirect the resident, and the resident could not comprehend instructions."
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 13, 2016, the state agency surveyor noted the facility's failure to "ensure a significant change assessment was completed in a timely manner for [one resident] review for a significant change in Activities of Daily Living." The deficient practice by the nursing staff involved a resident who "had an improvement in three areas of Activities of Daily Living."
The state investigator interviewed the facility MDS (Minimum Data Set)/Care Plan Coordinator on the afternoon of May 12, 2016, who "confirmed that a significant change assessment had not been completed for [a resident] for improvement in functional status." The Care Plan Coordinator said that "they normally do a significant change when a decline is involved, not for improvement."
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 13, 2016, a state surveyor made a notation of a deficient practice concerning the facility's failure to "ensure necessary care and treatment were provided to promote healing for [one] pressure ulcer reviewed." The investigator observed a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) providing wound care using a package that "had been opened previously to the treatment and no date had been placed on the package. After providing the treatment and removing [their] gloves, the LPN exited the room without washing [their] hands." The opened dressing package "was placed back into the treatment cart and the Treatment Administration Record was signed."
The state investigator interviewed the LPN who confirmed that their "hands were not washed [before] leaving the resident's room." The investigator reviewed the facility's policy titled: Cleaning Dressing Change that read in part "After application of the dressing, remove gloves; place in a bag for disposal and wash hands."
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 13, 2016, a notation was made by a state investigator about the facility's failure to "ensure appropriate treatment for [one resident] reviewed for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) observation of the PEG revealed the tubing was set at an incorrect rate."
The investigator interviewed the facility Director of Nursing on the evening of May 12, 2016, who confirmed that "the tube feeding had been set at an incorrect rate." The investigator reviewed the facility's policy titled: Enteral Feeding: Pump Method that read in part:
"A pump is used to administer enteral feeding at a constant, controlled infusion rate per physician's orders."
"Turn on the pump and set proper rate per pumps instructions."
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 13, 2016, a state agency surveyor made a notation during an annual licensure and certification survey of the facility's failure to "administer the correct amount of medication for [one resident] reviewed for a [medication] patch administration."
The investigator noted that the resident "did not receive the correct amount of a physician-ordered [Protein Derivative] during medication administration and [another resident] did not receive the correct amount a physician-ordered [allocations] during the medication administration."
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 13, 2016, a notation was made by the state surveyor concerning the nursing home's failure to "provide documented evidence of pneumococcal vaccine was offered and given to [two residents] reviewed for immunizations." A review of medical records revealed that there was "no documented evidence of pneumococcal vaccine administered to a resident."
The investigator interviewed the Admissions Director on May 13, 2016, who stated "upon admission, the history of the resident is checked in the Meditech System. If there is no documentation the resident received the vaccine, it is offered to the resident. This information goes to the nursing staff and once scanned into the system it is then the nursing department's responsibility." However, no documentation evidence was presented to the surveyor during the investigation process as to "whether the resident had previously received the pneumococcal vaccine, declined the vaccine or receive the vaccine at the facility."
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated January 15, 2015, a complaint investigation against the facility was opened for its failure to "ensure residents were afforded the opportunity to formulate an advance directive." The deficient practice at the nursing staff involved one resident. Upon review of the resident's "Advance Directive section of the medical records," it was revealed that the resident did not sign the Medical Intervention Guideline Form. Additional information on this form indicated, 'It is your right to make important decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment. This medical intervention guideline form provided the opportunity to inform us of your desires regarding treatment.'"
The investigator reviewed other records that revealed "there was no determination by two physicians to indicate that [the resident] was unable to make [their] Health Care decisions as required" by law. The state investigator interviewed the facility's Social Worker on the afternoon of January 15, 2015, who stated "it was [their] process to interview residents to determine their ability to sign an Advance Directive; and if unable to sign, two physicians would certify the resident was unable to make health care decisions, and a representative must sign the Advance Directive." Because the documentation was missing, the social worker said that they "would provide the foreman located." However, the form was not located nor was it provided to the surveyors before they exited the facility at the end of the investigation.
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated March 30, 2017, a state surveying agency noted the nursing home had failed to "ensure three residents at the same dining room table were served meals at the same time. Two residents at the table received their meals together why [a third resident] was allowed to sit and watch the tablemates eat their food."
The state investigator interviewed the facility Administrator on the afternoon of March 20, 2017, who stated that it was "policy that all residents at the table should receive their meals at the same time." The investigator reviewed the facility's policy titled: Nutrition Policies and Procedures that read in part:
"Meal Delivery: Serve patient/residents seated together with their meal at the same time."
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated March 30, 2017, a formal complaint against the facility was investigated by a state surveyor for its failure to "ensure the resident food was stored in a sanitary manner and was repaired using lean; well maintain equipment and sanitary practices." The investigator documented that failing to "do so results in an increased risk of foodborne illness for 118 residents receiving food from the kitchen."
The surveyor toured the facility's kitchen and food storage areas on the morning of March 27, 2017, observing numerous significant concerns including:
The state investigator interviewed the Dietary Supervisor on the morning of March 27, 2017, who said that "this happened over the weekend, and when asked what happened over the weekend, [the supervisor] said was pregnant you do not want to know."
If your loved one has been injured or died prematurely while residing at Prince George Health Care Center, call the South Carolina nursing home abuse lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center at (800) 926-7565 now for legal help. Our network of attorneys fights aggressively on behalf of Georgetown County victims of mistreatment living in long-term centers including nursing homes in Georgetown. Our skillful attorneys have successfully resolved many victim cases involving nursing home abuse and neglect. We can work on your behalf to ensure your family receives the financial compensation they deserve. Contact us now to schedule a free case review to discuss how to obtain justice and resolve a financial compensation claim. Let us fight aggressively to ensure your rights are protected.
Our lawyers accept all cases involving wrongful death, nursing home neglect, or personal injury through a contingency fee agreement. This arrangement will postpone your need to make a payment for our legal services until after our attorneys have resolved your case through a jury trial award or negotiated out of court settlement. We provide all clients a "No Win/No-Fee" Guarantee, meaning you owe us nothing if we are unable to obtain compensation on your behalf. Our legal team can start working on your case today to make sure you and your family receive monetary recovery for your damages. All information you share with our law offices will remain confidential.
Attorney Nathan Hughey
Licensed in South Carolina
Georgetown Nursing Home Injury Attorney Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home