Reporting Poor Care

Reporting Poor Care Received at a Medical Facility

Not all medical facilities provide the same level of care. In fact, some facilities perform significantly better than others offering identical services in the same community. Poor hygiene, the development of bedsores, lack of nutrition, dehydration, slipping and falling are all indicators of potential abuse at a medical facility.

Often times, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, medical centers and hospitals provide care with minimal staff that are often overworked, tired and fatigued. In addition, many staff members and aides providing care to the aging and infirmed lack formal education in proper established methods for providing optimized health care to meet the needs of their patients.

Reporting poor care is the first step in stopping the neglect and abuse. Formalizing a complaint submitted to the facility itself, police, advocates, CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), a state survey agency or public health department can alert others of the serious problem. Many families with loved one suffering poor care in a medical facility can file a complaint, alerting others of the neglect, abuse, minimal staffing, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, mistreatment or dietary issues.

Common Victims

Victims of poor care can be residents of a medical facility or temporarily staying in:

  • Hospitals
  • Nursing homes, nursing facilities or skilled nursing care
  • Assisted living facilities
  • Group homes, residential homes and immediate care facilities offering services for individuals who are intellectually disabled, aging or infirmed
  • Hospice agencies, home health agencies, rehabilitation centers and birthing centers
  • State-supported living facilities

Additionally, individuals receiving at home care can file a formal complaint against care providers offering the following:

  • At home hospice care
  • Home health
  • Adult day care
  • Personal assistance

Follow-Up Action

Once a formal complaint has been submitted, follow-up action by the agency or facility is necessary to ensure that the abuse and neglect stops immediately. Regulatory agencies often investigate reports of poor care, often times arriving unannounced at the facility to perform the following:

  • Visual observations of the condition of the patient and facility
  • A full review of records outlining the care given the patient
  • Conducted interviews with the individual filing the complaint along with the patient’s family members, staff and other residents in the facility
Reporting Poor Care

The law requires that certified or licensed healthcare providers notify regulatory agencies when any signs of neglect, abuse (mental or physical) or exploitation of the patient occurs. Healthcare providers are likely required to report poor care that could lead to serious consequences including:

  • Missing residents
  • Misappropriation of funds
  • Medication overdose
  • Giving the patient the wrong prescription
  • Inadequate treatment or care by the doctor or hospital
  • Misdiagnosis, no diagnosis or delayed diagnosis
  • Inadequate instructions at the time of discharge
  • Improper management of healthcare
  • Unnecessary death
  • Injury of an unknown source
  • Any situation posing a threat to the patient or resident receiving care

Unfortunately, reporting poor care might not happen because signs of neglect and abuse are not always obvious. The lack of proper nutrition, misdiagnosis of a medical condition, or the development of a bedsore can be an indicator of poor care in a medical facility. Often times, these problems go unreported, because they are undetected by loved ones or others at the facility until the situation becomes critical.

In many incidences, the performance of a doctor, nurse or medical staff might be inappropriate, inept, dishonest or illegal. The practices and conduct of the team may mistreat the patient causing harm or injury. Patients not receiving quality care are often placed at risk to serious complications that could lead to death.

When Legal Action is Required

In the event that corrective action is not being taken by a regulatory agency, the facility or medical staff to improve health care, legal action is often required. Hiring an attorney to file a complaint with one or more agencies, or filing documents to be submitted to court, is usually a wise decision for families wanting to take immediate steps to improve the health of a loved one being poorly treated. Skilled attorneys comprehensive in personal injury law can assist the victim using the courts as an intervention to the problem.

Nursing Home Law Center LLC at (800) 926-7565 provide a free consultation with the victim or loved ones to evaluate the case of abuse, neglect and poor care. Our skilled legal team can take immediate action to stop the careless or reckless actions of medical staff causing harm to the victim. With our years of experience, we have helped many families in northeast Illinois obtain financial compensation for the damages endured through the negligence or malpractice of others.

Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Resources

Client Reviews

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Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial. Lisa
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After I read Jonathan’s Nursing Home Blog, I decided to hire him to look into my wife’s treatment at a local nursing home. Jonathan did a great job explaining the process and the laws that apply to nursing homes. I immediately felt at ease and was glad to have him on my side. Though the lawsuit process was at times frustrating, Jonathan reassured me, particularly at my deposition. I really felt like Jonathan cared about my wife’s best interests, and I think that came across to the lawyers for the nursing home. Eric