According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 525 inspections were conducted of 343 nursing homes in the Commonwealth in the past year.
307 of those inspections, called surveys, stemmed from complaints of abuse, neglect, or other poor conditions. Examples of conditions that may indicate neglect or abuse include bedsores, falls, prescription drug errors, poor diet, dehydration, head injuries or any injuries with welts or bruising that have no explanation, and severe infections.
How Does the Survey Process Work?
- The Department of health conducts its surveys looking for data about patient care and facility conditions.
- If the survey results in a citation, the facility has a fixed amount of time to submit a plan of what steps they will take to correct the violations and when those steps will be completed (a surprise follow up visit will be conducted to make sure all issues were corrected).
- The Department of Health also has the ability to issue sanctions which can include revocation of license, ban on admission of new patients, fines, and being put on a provisional license (which triggers additional inspections and other regulations).
- If all issues have been corrected and the Department of Health is convinced it is warranted, the regular operating license may be reinstated.
What if I Suspect Neglect or Abuse?
If your loved one has suffered a personal injury like the ones listed above while in the care of a nursing home facility, contact an attorney to see if you are entitled to compensation. We at Cordisco & Saile, LLC have represented victims of nursing home neglect and obtained fair and just compensation for the injuries they sustained. Contact us for a free consultation to learn your rights to recovery.
