Resident at Orchard Path Suffers Several Fractures
Orchard Path, assisted living facility. According to excerpts from a report from the Minnesota Department of Health, it was alleged that the facility neglected the resident when the resident had ongoing, multiple falls and staff did not implement interventions to prevent further falls. The resident sustained a broken hip, broken shoulder, and a laceration to her head.
Failure to Implement Safety Interventions Leads to Injuries
The Minnesota Department of Health determined neglect was substantiated.
The facility was responsible for the maltreatment. The resident had approximately 36 falls in six months, several of which resulted in skin tears and bone fractures. The facility failed to investigate the cause, reassess the resident, and implement new, effective fall interventions after each fall.
The investigator conducted interviews with facility staff members, including administrative staff, nursing staff, and unlicensed staff. The investigator contacted family.
According to the MDH report, during an interview, The resident’s medical record indicated the resident fell 32-36 times over a period of six
months. In the timeframe investigated, the resident’s progress notes indicated after the first documented fall a portable x-ray was negative for injuries. However, the resident continued to complain of increasing pain. A physical therapy/occupational therapy (PT/OT) consult was ordered. Nearly three weeks later, the resident fell again. A portable x-ray indicated. an “old avulsion on the right great trochanter.” Family took the resident to the hospital where she was
diagnosed with a stable greater trochanteric fracture (right hip). There were no updates noted in the resident’s care plan or abuse prevention plan. The falls follow up form completed by a nurse indicated the long-term intervention was advising family not to leave the resident alone
in her room.
The resident’s hospital records indicated the resident was diagnosed with a closed nondisplaced fracture of greater trochanter of right femur, with a chief complaint of hip pain. The resident was considered stable for outpatient orthopedic follow-up and non-surgical management.
When interviewed, a family member expressed concerns regarding a pattern of call lights going unanswered for extended periods of time, alleged retaliation, medication errors, and frequent falls. After one fall, the family member brought the resident’s shoulder pain to the attention of the staff, but the pain was downplayed as the resident pulling herself down the hallway in her wheelchair using the rail, making her shoulder sore. Another family member saw the resident’s shoulder as she was dressing for the day and described it a looking “awful” and “black and blue.” The family requested an x-ray of the shoulder, which ended up revealing a shoulder fracture. The family member did not believe the resident’s care was improving and subsequently moved her to a different facility.
In conclusion, the Minnesota Department of Health determined neglect was substantiated.
Contact An Experienced Attorney to Review Your Case
If you have questions or concerns about fall or fracture lift suffered by someone you love contact Attorney Kenneth LaBore for a Free Consultation at 612-743-9048.
We sue assisted living facilities for negligence. Our attorneys handle nursing home neglect, memory care neglect, assisted living neglect, group home and home care neglect and other care provider malpractice and wrongful death claims. If your family has a concern about care in an elder facility call an assisted living injury attorney who knows how to get results for your case.