Nursing Homes Fined Following Residents’ Cocaine Use, Falls

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The state Department of Public Health (DPH) has fined three nursing homes for various violations, including a New Haven facility that was cited for cocaine use by residents.

RegalCare at New Haven was fined $1,680 after four residents tested positive for cocaine.

On April 30, 2018, a resident tested positive for cocaine after being seen handing a dollar bill with white powder on it to another resident, according to DPH. A physician’s order dated May 3 implemented several interventions, including room searches every day for three days, but the resident’s room was only searched May 4 and May 5.

The resident who was handed the dollar bill with white powder on it, who had opioid dependence, tested positive for cocaine on May 1. Daily room searches were ordered for three days but, according to the citation, that resident’s room was only searched May 4 and May 6.

On May 12, 2018, another resident was found lying on a floor with a large hematoma and was unresponsive for two minutes, according to DPH. At a hospital, the resident tested positive for cocaine and opiates. A May 16 physician’s order called for the resident’s room to be searched daily for three days, but records failed to show the room was searched on May 17.

On May 18, 2018, the facility got a call from a methadone clinic saying another resident tested positive for cocaine, according to DPH. The resident said the cocaine was obtained from another resident, who had gotten it from a nurse aide. The nurse aide was fired.

St. Camillus Center in Stamford was fined $6,420 after a resident at risk for skin breakdown was found to have stage 2 and stage 3 pressure ulcers on the resident’s heels on May 30, according to DPH.

An investigation found the clinical record failed to show that physician treatment orders were obtained when the sores first were found, and there was no evidence that preventative measures were put in place prior to May 30. Physician’s orders dated five days later directed staff to clean the resident’s heels with saline and apply an ointment, according to DPH.

“St. Camillus Center is committed to providing high-quality care to our patients and residents,” said spokeswoman Lori Mayer. “Unfortunately, we did receive a citation from the Department of Public Health earlier this year. Since that time, we provided additional staff education and training, and submitted a plan of correction to the state. At this time, we are in compliance with state and federal regulations.”

Mystic Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center was fined $7,340 for several violations. A resident with psychosis and anxiety had 14 unwitnessed falls between March 2018 and January 2019, according to documents. In several of the falls, the resident sustained injuries, including: an arm skin tear and abrasion March 31, 2018; leg bruises July 13; and a left femur fracture that required surgery Jan. 16, 2019.

A resident developed a facility-acquired stage 2 pressure ulcer on the coccyx on Feb. 7, and an investigation found staff failed to take proper preventative measures. According to DPH, over the course of January and February, 43 shifts lacked documentation the resident had been repositioned and 28 shifts lacked documentation the resident was helped with mobility.

On Nov. 24, 2018 a resident’s leg got trapped under a Hoyer lift during a transfer. The nurse aides helping the resident didn’t report the incident to nursing staff because the resident seemed fine, but the resident suffered a broken left hip. The incident should have been reported, the citation said.

Officials at Mystic Health Care and RegalCare at New Haven did not return phone calls seeking comment.

2 thoughts on “Nursing Homes Fined Following Residents’ Cocaine Use, Falls

  1. My loved one was in Saint Camillus in Stamford Connecticut from 2013 to part of 2014 It’s not something I recommend there are better nursing homes than that one but at the time when you don’t have much that’s where I decided to put my loved one and I wish I could’ve made a better choice if you saw that I saw you would too Unfortunately in May 2014 my loved one died as a result of not being taken care of at Saint Camillus nursing home that’s all I’m willing to share thank you and I hope you take this seriously

  2. regal care still has resident drug issues as recent as 2 weeks ago reported by patient to staff but ignored!!