Federal officials have fined Paradigm Healthcare Center of New Haven $63,700 for several lapses in care that included one case of a resident’s wound deteriorating so badly that 50 maggots crawled out of the person’s toe.
The resident had the toe amputated in September, and state records show there was no evidence that the resident’s wound had been monitored weekly – as required – between July 17 and Sept. 3.
Helen A. Mulligan, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the Boston regional office, said Friday that CMS imposed the fine of $4,550 a day – or $63,700 – against Paradigm from Oct. 14 to Oct. 27.
If Paradigm waives its right to a hearing, the fine will be reduced by 35 percent, she said.
David Bouchard, Paradigm’s administrator, could not be reached for comment Friday. He did submit a corrective action plan that was accepted this week by the state Department of Public Health but wrote that the plan’s submission did not constitute an admission of the alleged violations.
DPH conducted surprise inspections of Paradigm for CMS over nine days in October.
Among multiple violations, DPH found that the home did not verify the credentials of three employees before they were hired this past summer.
State records also show inspectors found that the home failed to maintain a surety bond to secure more than $30,000 in funds that residents had deposited with Paradigm.
DPH also found that the home had failed to provide social services to multiple residents who were battling addiction and were taking methadone, state records show.
DPH records show the first floor at Paradigm reeked of urine and its wallpaper was peeling. Paradigm’s action plan said that a “deep cleaning” schedule has been implemented and the wallpaper has been repaired.
In recent years, several nursing homes in the Paradigm chain, including those in Torrington, South Windsor and West Haven, have been fined by DPH for lapses in care.