Some cases are so egregious that surveyors place the nursing facility on a federal Medicare watch list and designate the home as a Special Focus Facility (SFF). The surveyors will return three or four times throughout the year to review documents, make observations and interview residents and employees. If there are no significant improvements to the list of infractions and deficiencies, the nursing facility can remain on the watch list for as long as 3 to 4 years.
Recently, nursing home regulators designated Purcell Care Center as a Special Focus Facility. The Home must begin making improvements to the level of care provided to every resident. Also, they must revise many policies and procedures that are not compliant with state and federal nursing home regulations. Likely, the nursing facility will remain on the watch list until the surveyors are satisfied that corrections made are permanent. Some serious deficiencies and violations concerning this facility are listed below.
This Nursing Home is a “for-profit” Center providing cares and services to the residents of Purcell and McClain County, Oklahoma. The 105-certified bed Home is located at:
801 N. 6th St.
Purcell, OK 73080
(405) 527-7798
In addition to providing Long Term Care and Skilled Services, the facility also offers
Monetary penalties are issued to alert a nursing facility that their substandard care to residents that leads to harm will not be tolerated. On December 17, 2015, the federal and state nursing home regulatory agencies issued a $16,044 fine to Purcell Care Center. On December 12, 2014, Medicare denied a request for payment for services rendered at the facility due to substandard care.
Over the last three years, there have been 17 health citations issued to the facility, which is twice the national average of 8.5 citations. Also, there have been seven formal complaints filed against the facility over the course of the last three years that it resulted in a citation.
Public information was made available on the Federal Medicare.gov website concerning filed complaints, safety concerns, opened investigations, health violations, incident inquiries, and dangerous hazards involving every nursing facility in the United States. The website also publishes a star rating summary system that families use to determine where to place a loved one who requires the highest level of hygiene assistance and nursing care.
Currently, Purcell Care Center maintains a much below average one out of five stars rating overall compared all the other nursing facilities in the US. This ranking includes one out of five stars for health inspections, one out of five stars for staffing, and four out of five stars for quality measures. Major concerns involving violations, citations, and deficiencies occurring within the last year are listed below.
Failure to Provide Activities to Meet the Needs and Interests of the Resident
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 15, 2017, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure “to ensure bed-bound/care-bound resident was provided individualized activities.” This deficiency of the nursing staff involved a severely impaired and cognitively challenged resident who “requires extensive assistance with bed mobility, transfers, and activities of daily living. The assessment further documented it was very important to the resident to do his favorite activities.”
However, the facility’s March 19, 2017, Activity Care Plan documents that “the resident had little or no activity involvement related to disinterest, immobility and poor adjustment to the facility. The interventions documented to invite or encourage the resident and family members to attend activities with the resident to support participation.” The Care Plan documents that “the resident requires assistance to attend activity functions.” However, the resident was observed asleep in his room at 8:15 AM on May 10, 2017, while an exercise activity was being held in the common area.”
The investigator interviewed the Restorative Aide at 11:45 AM the same day and was asked, “if the resident participated in the activities that were offered at the facility.” The Aide responded that “the resident refused to go to activities and told her to get out of his room. She further stated she would go in at a later time to ask him if he would like to do an activity and he would refuse”. She was asked, “how she would promote the resident’s participation in activities.” She stated that “she would go to the resident’s room often throughout the day to ask him if you would like to participate in any of the activities.”
The facility’s MDS (Minimum Data Set) Coordinator was asked on the afternoon of May 15, 2017, how she could “identify what activities the resident was interested in according to the Care Plan.” The Coordinator replied that “she was not sure because there were no other activities listed.” When asked “if the Care Plan had documentation to indicate the resident’s activity preferences and interests,” the coordinator replied, “No.” The coordinator was asked, “if the resident was asked what his areas of interest were.” The coordinator replied “No.”
Failure to Develop, Implement and Enforce Programs That Investigate, Control and Keep Infection from Spreading
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 15, 2017, the state investigator noted that the facility had failed to “ensure staff washed and sanitized hands according to the standard precautions to prevent the spread of infection while obtaining a fingerstick blood sugar level.” This deficiency included a failure to “cleanse the finger prior to performing the fingerstick blood sugar [sample], and clean the [device], before performing a fingerstick blood sugar [sample] and between resident use.”
Failure to Keep Accurate, Complete and Organize Clinical Records on Every Resident That Meet Professional Standards
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 15, 2017, it was documented that the facility had failed to “ensure documentation was complete and accurate for [to residents].” A review of a resident’s MAR (Medication Administration Record dated March 2017 revealed the resident was taking pain relievers that had “been administered for pain five of 31 days. The Individual Narcotic Record, dated March 2017, documented the resident received the pain medication 22 times.”
The investigator noted that “there was no documentation to indicate the pain severity level had been obtained prior to or after the administration of [the painkiller].” To follow up, the investigator interviewed the facility’s Director Nursing that morning and asked “about the documentation of PRN [as needed] pain medications and pain levels. She stated there was a place on the MAR where the Certified Medication Aide (CMA)/nurse would document the pain rating, prior to administering the pain medication.” The Director reviewed the MAR “which had not documented a pain level prior to the administration to pain medications.” The Director replied that “if it wasn’t documented, it wasn’t done.”
Failure to Set up an Ongoing Quality Assessment and Assurance Group to Review Quality Deficiencies Quarterly
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated May 15, 2017, the state investigator noted the facility’s failure to “maintain an effective Quality Assessment and Assurance (QAA) program to identify, assess, implement, and monitor corrective interventions to address problems and prevent further occurrences.”
Surveyors documented that the QAA Committee failed to identify “system failures and the areas of medication administration, infection control, and the unnecessary use of medications. This [deficient] practice had the potential to affect all 36 residents who reside in the facility.” As a part of the findings, it was noted that the facility “failed to identify residents who were not observed to receive their medications.” Also, the facility “failed to ensure hot water temperatures were at a comfortable level” and failed to “identify staff not following policy when performing a fingerstick blood sugar” sample.
Failure to Safely Provide Medications and Other Similar Products Which Are Needed Every Day and in Emergencies
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated July 23, 2017, the state investigator noted that the facility had failed to “ensure the resident received a physician’s order medication.” As a part of the documentation, it was revealed that the facility “identified seven residents who are receiving insulin at the facility.”
The investigator reviewed a resident’s May 8, 2017, Care Plan that documents that the resident “had diabetes mellitus” and “diabetes medication was to be administered as ordered by the physician.” The resident’s May 2, 2017, physician’s order (PO) revealed that the resident “was to be administered Levemir – 40 unit subcutaneous in the morning and Levemir – 35 units subcutaneously at bedtime” to treat their medical condition.
However, a review of the resident’s Medication Administration Record was reviewed and revealed that there “was no documentation to indicate a physician’s order” had been received. At 8:00 PM on July 23, 2017, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) was “asked why the insulin was held for the resident.” The LPN responded that “she was not sure because [another Licensed Practical Nurse] held the medication.”
The LPN was asked, “if there was an order to hold the medication.” The LPN replied, “No” but was “asked if there was documentation indicating [that] the physician was notified of the missed doses.” The LPN replied, “No.”
Failure to Complete a Care Plan That Meets All the Resident’s Needs
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated July 23, 2017, the state investigator noted the facility failed to “ensure the care plans for [a resident] was implemented for providing activities.” The findings of the state investigator included notations of a resident’s May 24, 2017, Care Plan that “documents that the resident participated in activities of choice. The interventions included “if the resident refused an activity, staff was to provide in-room activities for the resident.”
The investigator interviewed the resident who “was asked if activities were offered as he would like, including evenings and weekends.” The resident replied, “No.” The investigator asked the resident “if activities were offered on the weekends.” The resident replied, “No.” When asked if the staff “provided him with items [so] he could do on his own like books, cards or puzzles,” the resident replied, “No.”
The facility’s Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) was interviewed at 8:00 PM the same day and “was asked if any activity scheduled for the resident occurred.” The LPN replied, No, there were never activities occurring on the weekends.” The LPN was asked “if items were provided to residents so they could do activities on their own.” The LPN replied that “she was not sure.”
The facility’s MDS (Minimum Data Set) Coordinator was interviewed at 8:30 PM and “was asked if activities occurred on the weekend.” The Coordinator replied that “housekeeping was to play a movie for the resident on the weekends, [and] she was not sure if the activity occurred.” The surveyor referred the Coordinator to the resident’s Care Plan and “was asked if the Activity Care Plan was being implemented for the resident.” The Coordinator replied, “No.”
Failure to Provide Activities to Meet the Interest Needs of Every Resident
In a summary statement of deficiencies dated July 23, 2017, the state investigator documented that the facility had failed to “ensure activities were provided for [two residents].” Part of the findings included the results of an initial tour occurring on July 23, 2017. The surveyor noted that “there was no activity observed to be conducted. There was one resident observed to be out in the facility. The activity calendar documented a movie and snacks was scheduled at 2:00 PM”.
The surveyor interviewed a resident at 3:20 PM the same day and “was asked if there were activities offered as she would like, including evenings and weekends. She stated there were no activities on the current day or the day before. She further stated there was an activity only once a week if the Activity Director had time.” The investigator asked the resident “if staff provided items so she could do activities on her own, like books, cards or puzzles.” The resident replied, “No.”
A different resident was interviewed at 3:30 PM and “asked if there were activities offered as often as she would like, …” The resident replied “there were no activities on the weekends. She further stated of the activities were all right, but activities are not provided as often as she would like.” The resident also stated, “the activities were always the same and get boring.”
If your loved one was victimized by abuse and neglect while residing at Purcell Care Center, or any Oklahoma nursing facility, they are likely entitled to receive financial compensation for their harm. However, it is best to hire personal injury attorney who specializes in Oklahoma nursing home abuse and neglect cases. These compensation claims are typically handled through contingency fee arrangements, so no upfront fees are ever required.
A lawyer working on your behalf can ensure all the necessary motions and documentation are filed in the appropriate county courthouse before the Oklahoma statute of limitations expires. Your attorney can ensure that your family receives adequate monetary compensation to cover medical expenses, the cost of hospitalization and treatment, pain, suffering, mental anguish, and anxiety.
For more information on the laws and regulations applicable to Oklahoma nursing homes, look here.
Sources:
McClain County Nursing Home Injury Attorney Nursing Home Law Center LLC Home