Bellalynn

I gave the facility over a month to fix the issues, the issues just kept getting worse. They had over four weeks to fix things that needed fixing & I never saw any positive progression, so I called state. I was terminated the day after state came into our building. I was told that they no longer needed me because my position wasn't necessary. State has yet to call me with a follow up related to the results of the investigation, so. As for me calling state and other facilities looking down upon that when word gets around...I beg to differ because I know work right down the street & I feel by calling state it will at least earn them a poor reputation so people will be hesitant to admit their loved ones to a neglectfully ran facility when there's a five star one right down the road. I feel in my heart what I did was the right thing because every resident deserves a decent quality of care.

Okay, this is my first time "posting" so please bear with me. I have a couple of issues and questions that I'm concerned about. I work in a LTC facility, and I have had some issues with the quality of care the residents have been receiving i.e. briefs left behind beds, residents left up after meals sleeping in their wheelchairs, beds being made even though the sheets are dried in urine, hands not getting washed prior to serving meals, residents that smoke being taken out to the smoking area and smoking a cigarette while wearing their oxygen or having it placed to the side, narcotics coming up missing, residents complaining because of this or that, pills not being gave, etc. I spoke with all of the management including administrator, don, adon, etc. They say action will be taken or make an excuse for any issue that "arises". I feel like all of these problems are being pushed under the rug, so I called the state inspectors. They asked for my name, which I gave to them. They also asked about any specific residents, and I did give them one residents name...(first question) IS THIS A HIPPA VIOLATION? I asked if it was prior to giving the resident's name & the lady told me it was not so I proceeded. I am now feeling somewhat guilty for calling the state rather than the obundsman or corporate first. However, I want people to have repurcussions (sp?) for how they are providing care to the residents, and that is not happening. I was at a dead end, and I feel I did the right thing in my heart. But now I'm worried. Will I get into trouble for waiting to see if the administrator or don would take action before I called state? Will I get reported to TBON? Also, do you think anything will happen when state investigates? It seems like the facility was on their best behavior when they were expecting survey, but after the surveyors left, they stopped doing their jobs. That is how I feel.