Nursing Home's Residents in 'Immediate Jeopardy' According to DHS Report
Sara E. Teller — October 27, 2017
Image Courtesy of Nursing Home Law Center
Capital Health and Rehabilitation Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, was recently hit hard with a less-than-admirable report from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) regarding at least two of its residents. The department's survey concluded the nursing home "failed to ensure necessary care and services were provided hygiene and urinary catheter maintenance" for one resident who had an indwelling catheter.
Nurses who were interviewed said, "[Maggots] were, like, going inside his penis. It's just gross. Nasty. I'm not going to say it was a handful, but it was a lot. They were little." The report also indicated the resident, who is completely dependent on caregivers, contracted a urinary tract infection, and, "The flies were real bad down there. We had fly swatters. I have killed a couple of flies in his room and one was under the covers. But I didn't think anything about that."
The same survey found the nursing home also "failed to ensure adequate supervision…interventions…and increased monitoring" for a 92-year-old resident with dementia who required 24/7 supervision. The report stated the resident escaped twice. A visitor inadvertently let him out the first time and employees eventually found him sitting under a tree on the grounds. The second time it's unclear how the resident managed to escape, but his son found him at a nearby restaurant.
According to the document, the facility was not aware the patient was missing either time, which ultimately caused his son to question his father's safety and request a transfer to a different nursing home. The man is no longer at Capital Health and Rehabilitation Center, according to the report.
The department's survey stated both experiences resulted in the worst possible rating, "the level of Immediate Jeopardy, which caused or could have caused serious harm, injury or death." According to DHS, the home self-reported its deficiencies and currently owes $21,000 in fines. The center has allegedly devised corrective action plans to rectify the issues.
Specifically, following the report, the nursing home inspected every room, deep cleaned the resident's room that was infested with maggots, and hired a pest control company to spray for flies. It also developed an ongoing schedule to ensure nurses followed the catheter care protocol going forward and began requiring department supervisors to make daily rounds.
To address its issues with residents escaping, the facility changed all of its door codes, posted signage to the front door asking visitors to notify the staff before letting anyone out and sent a letter to all family members addressing the changes made. It also hosted in-services with staff members regarding what to do when there is a missing resident. The center's elopement policy was reviewed with all employees present. This policy includes procedures for unsupervised wandering by residents that results in leaving the facility unexpectedly.
Capital Health and Rehabilitation Center is owned by Skyline Highland Holdings and its official business name is Highlands of Little Rock South Cumberland Holdings, LLC. According to DHS, Skyline has several corporations in Arkansas that own or manage nursing facilities, with a total of 21 nationwide. The center consists of 120 resident beds.
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