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The Pearl Nursing Center of Rochester has received 121 citations for violations of public health code between 2017 and 2021, according to New York State Department of Health records accessed on February 28, 2020, as well as four fines totaling $20,000 since 2011. The Rochester nursing home’s citations resulted from a total of 11 surveys by state inspectors. The deficiencies they describe include the following:
1. The nursing home did not take adequate steps to avoid accidents. Section 483.25 of the Federal Code guarantees nursing home residents the right to adequate supervision to prevent accidents. A December 2019 citation found that The Pearl Nursing Center of Rochester failed to ensure such. The citation states specifically that one resident who had been identified upon admission as an elopement risk was not given a wanderguard supervision device until after they eloped from the facility. The citation goes on to describe another resident whose aspiration precautions were not properly followed in an instance where their meal was not cut up “and the resident attempted to put the whole rolled pasta in their mouth.” The citation states that these deficiencies had the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
2. A June 2018 citation also found that The Pearl Nursing Center of Rochester failed to ensure residents an environment as free as possible of accident hazards, as is required by Section 483.25 of the Federal Code. The citation states specifically that a resident who required the use of a mechanical lift was provided with one which was out of their weight range. It goes on to describe a supply closet containing 39 twin blade razors which was required to be locked at all times, but which was observed unlocked even as residents passed by it. The citation describes these deficiencies as having the “potential to cause more than minimal harm.”
3. The nursing home did not adequately protect residents from medication errors. Section 483.45 of the Federal Code ensures nursing home residents the right to be “free of any significant medication errors.” A June 2018 citation found that The Pearl Nursing Center of Rochester failed to ensure such. The citation specifically describes a resident whose antibiotics “were missed or administered late” on multiple instances. In some instances, the citation states, the doses were given up to two hours late, according to facility records; in some, they weren’t “given at all”; in one instance, the dose was given more than seven and a half hours late. A plan of correction undertaken by the facility included the education of nursing staff on proper policies and procedures regarding medication administration.
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.
