To figure out how the nursing home you have chosen for your family is rated and to see if the home has any prior violations, check out our nursing home index. We’ve compiled all of the nursing homes in Arizona as well as their health code reports, including those from Archstone Care Center.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you have significant experience in helping clients who have been a nursing home abuse victim. Our offices are conveniently located in nearby Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person at our nearby offices, over the phone, or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like finding a nearby doctor who can help you or recommending you to temporary or long-term care options. You and your family’s’ safety and health are our top concern, and even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
To figure out how the nursing home you have chosen for your family is rated and to see if the home has any prior violations, check out our nursing home index. We’ve compiled all of the nursing homes in Arizona as well as their health code reports.
Additionally, take a look at our Nursing Home Glossary– an index of important words you need to know in a nursing home abuse case and their definitions.
If you are unsure whether or not you can afford an attorney, don’t worry. We only get paid when you settle. Check out our Attorney Fees Calculator to find out more.
Archstone Care Center
Chandler, AZ’s Archstone Care Center has been cited for the following violations in the 2019 DHHS / CMS report.
Failure to honor the resident’s right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive. (F 0578)
Improper record-keeping led to inconsistencies regarding an Advance Directive (AD) order in one patient’s record.
The initial Advance Directive Decision order revealed a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) and Do Not Hospitalize (DNH) order, however this form was not completed by a physician per law. But other medical records showed that he did not want a DNR/DNH.
Failure to assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition. (F 0637)
The facility failed to ensure that a significant change in status Minimum Data Set (MDS), a standardized assessment tool, was completed within the required timeframe for one resident. In this case, a resident was admitted to a hospice, however this was not updated as required in the MDS assessment.
The MDS assessment policy instructs a Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) is required to be performed when a terminally ill resident enrolls in a hospice program within 14 days from the effective date of the hospice election.
Failure to provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed. (F 0695)
The facility failed to ensure that oxygen was administered per physician’s order for one resident. The orders were to give oxygen at 2 liters per minute (LPM), but it was instead set at 3.5 LPM.
Failure to ensure each resident’s drug regimen is free from unnecessary drugs. (F 0757)
Facility failed to ensure that pain medication was administered per the physician’s orders. tHe orders were to administer 10mg of HCl every 4 hours for pain 9-10, but it was administered for a pain level of 2 at less frequent intervals. The expectation and policy is to follow a standardized approach per physician’s orders.
Failure to ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs. (F 0761)
Several different types of expired medications were made available to two residents, and administered to one resident. This happened regardless of the fact that the facilities Sorage of Medications policy clarifies that outdieated medications or those improperly stored are to be disposed of.
How common are medication errors in nursing homes?
Several of the violations above are to do with the way the facility manages and administers medication.
52 US nursing homes resulted in a medication error rate of 12.2%, and suggests that some 16-27% of nursing home residents regularly experience medication errors.
Examples of medication errors include:
- Giving expired medication
- Omission of dosage
- Giving the wrong strength of medication
- Overdose or underdose
- Wrong medication
The above violations did not result in harm. Expired medications typically lose their potency however nursing homes have stringent rules for the handling, storage and disposal of medications in order to prevent misuse by any party. There is a small chance, however, that expired medications could present a danger — for instance, if they are being administered but no longer effective.
If a medication error results in harm, it could constitute neglect or abuse. The most likely cause for harm in this context is giving the incorrect dosage of medication.
About Advance Directives (AD) in Nursing Homes
Advance Directives are essentially instructions from a living patient which communicate their preferences if they are no longer able to make a decision regarding end of life issues. The CDC states that the most common types of ADs are living wills and DNR orders.
There are very specific rules about prehospital medical care directives per 36-3251 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to ensure accuracy. The above violation did not result in harm, but it’s vital that residents and their caretakers are clear on these issues in order to protect themselves.
If you have questions or concerns about a legal issue in an Arizona nursing home, reach out today for a free consultation — we’ll be happy to help.
Get Help Now
Our team of abuse attorneys is dedicated to seeking damages on behalf of those family members who are being abused and help you find better accommodations for them in the nearby area. We’ve worked on a number of nursing home abuse cases previously in your area and take the time to understand the family’s concerns as well as the situation they believe their loved one is in.
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their and their loved one’s personal injuries, including those from nursing home abuse in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
