Nursing Home Fined $100,000 in Patient's Death
August 9, 2010-According to reports a California nursing home was fined $100,000 in a patient’s death. According to health officials an 85 year old man died of brain trauma after falling and the North California nursing home has been fined for failing to properly monitor the patient. This victim's family will surely be needing an elder abuse attorney.
The nursing home identified as Pilgrim Haven Health Facility in Los Altos has been fined after the staff allegedly failed to prevent the elderly man from falling twice and sustaining a fatal head injury.
According to health officials the man was not treated for the fatal head injury, he also had a heart condition and diabetes. According an August 3rd to health official investigators report the 85 year old man was used a walker and was supposed to be supervised when walking.
According to a fax sent to the elderly mans physician, October 3rd the staff found the man sitting on the floor of his room after falling and scratched his head.
December 7th the patient was found on the floor of his room and according to staff notes read by the state health investigator a staff member found him collapsed away from his walker. One employee of the Pilgrim Haven Nursing Home stated sometimes the elderly patient does not use his walker and that is dangerous for him.
According to staff records the man was given a neurological evaluation that appeared normal, however later the man turned pale, listless and began vomiting the staff did not re-evaluate him or notify his physician for approximately two hours. According to the patient’s medical records there was no registered nurse on duty the night of the fall.The 85 year old was transferred to the hospital after his doctor and nephew were notified, where he died the following morning. According to investigators the physician medical records stated he did a CT scan and determined the cause of wrongful death was bleeding in the brain, from a fall with head trauma.
The nursing home, which is owned by the nonprofit American Baptist Homes and is one of 11 facilities, submitted a plan of correction to the state and nursing home officials stated they checked that electronic fall prevention devices were in place for other patients. In May they also reviewed fall prevention policies with the licensed nurses on staff.
According to Rae Holt executive director of Pilgrim Haven they believe they responded correctly and complied with regulations. Holt further stated that the nursing home had never been cited prior and received a superior rating during the last state inspection.
This has been a public service message from the Los Angeles accident lawyer at:
633 West Fifth Street, 28th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071-2005
(213) 596-9642
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