Bishop Wicke Health & Rehabilitation Center in Shelton was fined $2,160 on April 27 in connection with a resident who fell and was later hospitalized with inoperable bleeding on the brain.
The DPH citation said that the resident’s head was hit during the fall on Oct. 24. As the resident became fatigued, a doctor treated the resident for a possible infection but reported never being told about the fall, the citation said. A registered nurse could not document that the doctor had been told about the fall, DPH found.
Beth Bemis, a spokeswoman for United Methodist Homes, which owns Bishop Wicke, said DPH’s annual inspection is a “valuable tool” for the home to improve its procedures.
“All of our policies have been reviewed and staff were in-serviced on documentation procedures,’’ she said. “We take every opportunity when the state visits us as a chance to update and educate our staff to maintain our high standard of care.”
On May 10, Autumn Lake Healthcare at Norwalk was fined $2,140 in connection with three residents who developed blisters or pressure sores.
In the case of a resident with a blister on a heel, the home’s records failed to state that the resident’s heels should be elevated, and the resident was observed March 3 with both heels resting on a mattress, the DPH citation said.
The home was also cited in connection with a resident who developed a pressure sore on Oct. 12, and the home’s records failed to document whether the wound was assessed or treated, the citation said.
The home was also cited in connection with a resident who developed a deep tissue injury on Feb. 16. A licensed practical nurse failed to put the measurements of the wound’s size in the home’s computer, the citation said. The home’s records also failed to show that weekly skin checks were conducted on the resident in February, the citation said.
Officials at the home declined to comment.
On May 16, Western Rehabilitation Care Center in Danbury was fined $1,835 in connection with a resident who fell Aug. 26 and sustained cuts on the lips.
DPH found that a doctor had ordered that padded floor mats be placed on the sides of the bed because the resident was at risk for falling. A nurse’s aide had removed the mats to care for the resident, but had left the room to get a mechanical lift, and that’s when the resident fell. The home also failed to assess the resident’s risk for falls quarterly, DPH found.
The home was also cited in connection with a resident who developed a pressure sore on a heel in April. The home’s records failed to show that the resident’s heels were elevated to prevent injury, the citation said.
Executive Director Joel Carmichael did not respond to a request for comment.
