Five Connecticut Nursing Homes Fined

Five nursing homes were fined by the state Department of Public Health for lapses in care.

A $1,020 fine was levied on the Golden Hill Health Care Center of Milford for failing to provide proper care to a resident who needed splints/braces on his or her lower extremities.  An inspection in January found that there was no record that the resident’s skin was monitored, as directed in the care plan.   The resident suffered skin wounds caused by pressure from the incorrect use of the splints/braces, according to a DPH inspection report.

The Bishop Wicke Health & Rehabilitation Center, Inc., of Shelton was fined $1,090 for failing to properly supervise a resident who fell twice in August 2012. The patient sustained a hip fracture, as well as lacerations of the forehead and arm, after being found on the bathroom floor. Also, the nursing home was cited for loose bedrails during an inspection.

The Pope John Paul II Care and Rehabilitation Center of Danbury was fined $1,090 after a resident developed a pressure ulcer on the thumb, as a result of the use of a hand splint.  The resident, who also was identified as at risk for falls, sustained injuries from falling when he or she was not properly assisted or supervised.

The Portland Care & Rehabilitation Center of Portland was fined $570 after an incident in which a certified nurse’s aide admitted taking a Fentanyl narcotic pain patch from a patient. The aide was placed on administrative leave, according to the DPH report.

The Chesterfields Health Care Center of Chester was fined $1,420 for failing to properly supervise a resident who was identified as a danger to himself or herself and others.  The resident, with a history of bipolar disorder, dementia and depression, had resisted care and become abusive to facility staff, but was not properly assessed for those concerns, the DPH report says. The patient was transported to an acute care hospital by taxi – instead of being properly transported by emergency medical personnel.