Several Connecticut nursing homes are fined by state

Seven Connecticut nursing homes have been fined by the state Department of Public Health (DPH) because of medication errors or injuries sustained by residentS.

Golden Hill Health Care Center (Milford) was fined when a resident suffered a broken leg and bruises in a July 31 fall. DPH records show that the facility failed to notify a physician for eight hours after the incident, when staff noticed the resident moaning and crying. The resident was found to have a broken leg and bruises on Aug. 1, DPH records show. An additional citation was issued when it was discovered that a nurse failed to document a pain assessment. The DPH concluded that it the resident was not taken to the emergency department for more than 10 hours after showing signs of unrelieved pain.

Regency Heights of Stamford also received fines stemming from several incidents, including striking a resident. April 16, a resident struck an aide, who responded by hitting the resident in the arm. A witness to the event said the aide should have walked away. The aide indicated that the resident had disrespected her before.

Other incidents at Regency Heights involved a resident who broke a toe when a shower door closed on the resident’s foot and the hospitalization of a resident with diabetes who did not receive three doses of a prescribed drug.

Montowese Health and Rehabilitation Center was fined for an incident when one resident was hospitalized after taking another resident’s medication.

Other fines the Connecticut DPH levied on other facilities in the state were for improper transfers, medication errors, a choking incident and a pressure sore that was not documented in an individual’s care plan.

Sandra Hoban

Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.