Administrator and Director of Nurses indicted

ktwlpn, LPN · Aug 18, 2002

Originally posted by bucksandra
hello all..just wanted to let everyone know that an administrator and director of nursing have been indicted for reckless homicide in springfield, Tenn. The article may be ssen in the Robertson Co. Times..http://www.rctimes.com

And the "buck" stops with them....

Youda · Aug 19, 2002

What happened there?

bucksandra · Aug 20, 2002

From what I have gathered, there was a female resident admitted there with a stage 3 pressure ulcer..she did not improve, actually continued to worsen; developed pneumonia and died in another home four months later. The indictment reads that the Adm & DON did willfully follow inadequate policy and procedures. This is a county owned home. The trial begins on Sept. 6th. Both ladies are facing 2-4 yrs in prison. The information that I have given you came from the newspaper article. I have no idea what type of care this home delivers.

Sandra

NurseKimberley · Aug 24, 2002

I don't get it...the resident died 4 and a half months after discharge and they are going down for that?

Vsummer1 · Aug 24, 2002

Patient not at nursing home when she died

By Lea Ann Overstreet

Times Staff Writer

Aug. 22, 2002

The attorney for Elm Hurst Nursing Home revealed Thursday the patient who died, causing the Home and two administrators to be indicted, was not a patient at the home for the 4-1/2 months prior to her death.

Springfield attorney Clyde Richert, who will represent Elm Hurst's Board of Directors, said Lillian Hyde was discharged from the home May 31, 2001. Mrs. Hyde, 84, later died Oct. 4.

"There has been some indication she died at Elm Hurst," said Richert. "She died four-and-a-half months later after visiting hospitals and other nursing homes."

Hyde's death was the crux of Robertson County Grand Jury indictments for reckless homicide issued against Elm Hurst Nursing Home, administrator Jane Smithson and nurse Donna Henry, who serves as director of nursing.

"I think this will turn out down the road...not to be what it appears to be," Richert said.

The indictment issued by the Robertson County Grand Jury states that Hyde received poor care from on or about Jan. 1, 2001, to May 31, 2001. The court record states that upon her death, Hyde suffered from seven ulcers varied in size. One measured nine by nine centimeters and Hyde's spine could be seen through the opening.

Smithson and Henry remain in their job while the case is being decided.

"The Board believes that's the proper course to take," said Richert. "We believe they will perform their job."

According to Richert, Hyde was admitted to Elm Hurst Oct. 6, 1995. He says she left the home May 31, 2001, and was in and out of other homes during the time preceding her death.

Richert says Hyde was not under the care of Elm Hurst at the time of her death and the Home is "attempting to determine" what happened in the case.

"I'm not sure we know exactly why she was removed," said Richert. "She was quite ill, and quite ill for some time."

Hyde was bedridden for the last two years she was at Elm Hurst, which contributed to the chances of developing bed sores.

"Ulcers happen at all nursing homes," said J.T. White, the vice-chairman of the Elm Hurst Board of Directors. "The state comes in and asks who has ulcers and we show them. They (the state) continually want you to update ... we are continually improving the nursing home.

"We've got nurses that do nothing but take care of bed sores on every shift."

Neither Richert nor White would comment on any specifics of the case, but both agree that Elm Hurst and its employees will find vindication in the long run.

"The Home is conducting a thorough investigation and we have every confidence in the Home," Richert said. "It's important for the people in the community to feel the same way."

Elm Hurst received low ratings dealing with patient care prior to Hyde's death. The state inspected the Home May 11, 2001, and Elm Hurst received 10 health deficiencies.

One deficiency resulted in a three rating upon inspectors determining that the home failed to "give residents proper treatment to prevent new bed (pressure) sores or heal existing bed sores," the inspection report states.

Each deficiency is rated from one to four, four being the worst.

"Nurses fight this issue everyday. One bed sore may get better and by the next night it's bad again," White said. "You never know about a bed sore."

Smithson and Henry were arrested Aug. 5 and later posted a $5,000 bond. A court date has been set for Sept. 6. If found guilty, the employees could be sentenced to serve two to four years for the offense.

Elm Hurst Nursing Home, Inc., was created in 1962 as a Tennessee not-for-profit corporation. Robertson County owns the land and building the nursing home occupies. The county leases the property to Elm Hurst.

nursegoodguy · Aug 24, 2002

what the h3ll is wrong with this picture?

A patient is discharged and dies 4 1/2 months later and the don and adm are going to take the heat for it?

So the family took the patient out of one home and had her in several others til she died all in 4 &1/2 months...

What is wrong with the family that they nursing home jumped in such a short period of time? Maybe they should have some charges brought against them for putting the poor thing through it!

It's hard to get good care when you don't give the staff a chance to even know what the patient needs!

Bed sores don't just happen due to neglect... You have to look at the total patient... self mobility, LOC, medical conditions, nutrition/hydration status, mobility, continence, weight, and of course care is in there too. The point is that sometimes there are many causes of a bed sore and not just one.

Being in health care is sometimes scary business!

adrienurse, LPN · Aug 24, 2002

The woman had a stage III before even being admitted to the facility!! Isn't this an indication that she was in extremely poor health to begin with?? Do we have to worry about getting sued every time some frail 90 year dies?? That is what inevitably happens to 90 year olds.

This world is getting scarier by the day!

night owl · Sep 2, 2002

Sounds ridiculous to me also. Blaming the DON and ADON of this facility when she died of pneumonia in another facility 4 and a half months later? I'd love to be a fly on the wall for this trial!

The PU's came from declining health, poor nutrition, hydration, incontinence, poor skin care, LACK OF STAFFING to give proper care. The suit should be directed towards the government and Jayco for it is they who have the ultimate say on staffing levels per shift! Better staffing=better care. Sound like the family watches too many of those TV commercials about lawyers and poor NH care. They don't know the real reasons for the lack of care...minimal staffing=more money for owners, less care for residents. The government needs to get a grip...more staffing=less lawsuits=better care! To h*ll with pocket money for the owners, look out for your residents in your home!!! Please let us know the outcome of this trial.