Rego Park Nursing Home Cite for Falls, Infection

Rego Park Nursing Home has received 42 citations for violations of public health code between 2018 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on March 4, 2022. The Flushing nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 10 surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:

1. The nursing home did not implement adequate accident-prevention measures. Under Section 483.25 of the Federal Code, nursing homes must provide residents with adequate supervision to prevent them from sustaining accidents. An April 2021 citation found that Rego Park Nursing Home failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes “a resident identified as high risk for fall/injury, with severely impaired cognition,” who suffered a fall while “trying to use” their bathroom. A nursing note documenting the fall stated that the resident had wanted to go to their bathroom, but “forgot to use the call bell for help.” They then fell and hit their head, after which they were taken to the hospital and then returned to the nursing home. “The resident had another fall attempting to use the bathroom” after that incident, according to the citation, which goes on to note that “there was no documented evidence” the resident’s care plan for falls was updated or reviewed to determine the effectiveness of existing interventions. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the updating of the resident’s care plan for falls.

2. The nursing home did not take adequate measures to prevent infection. Section 483.80 of the Federal Code requires nursing homes to establish and maintain a program to prevent and control infection and disease. An April 2021 citation found that Rego Park Nursing Home failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes an instance in which a nurse administered eyedrop medication without wearing gloves; an instance in which a resident’s oxygen tubing “was observed on the floor”; and an instance in which staff assisted several residents “without performing hand hygiene between residents or after touching dirty items during the dining preparation and service.” A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the education of facility staff about various infection control procedures.

3. Rego Park Nursing Home was also cited for a failure to ensure adequate infection control measures in an October 2019 citation. According to state inspectors, nurses used improper hand hygiene technique while administering medication; a nurse and a certified nursing staff entered the room of a resident on contact precautions “without using personal protective equipment”; and those same staffers “observed performing multiple episodes of improper hand hygiene technique and potential cross contaminations” while completing wound treatment. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the in-servicing of all nursing staff on hand-washing technique, the use of PPE, and infection control practices.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC work diligently to protect the rights of nursing home residents.  Please contact us to discuss in the event you have a potential case involving neglect or abuse.