Reports of Nursing Home Abuse in Tennessee Shut Down Facility

A number of complaints regarding nursing home abuse in Maryville resulted in approximately 100 residents being removed from the Colonial Hills Nursing Center. The nursing home allegedly lost its certification with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services because of a number of problems it encountered in 2011, according to Canadian Business. These problems included some life-threatening deficiencies.

The director of health care facilities with the Tennessee Department of Health reported that two of the facility’s residents claimed to have been sexually assaulted. Other violations included patients becoming ill from overly-salted foods and complication from being given incorrect medications. The facility has been ordered to shut down and improve its standard of care before it can re-open.

Our Tennessee nursing home abuse lawyers understand that we depend on nursing homes to provide the proper care to our elderly loved ones, and that these centers have a responsibility to follow strict standards of care. Colonial Hills Nursing Center had nearly 165 residents in December when they were given the notification. Roughly 100 of those patients rely on Medicare and Medicaid. The Tennessee Department of Health ordered the facility to relocate those patients by early February.

State officials and the federal government will not pay for sub-quality care. After an investigation into the facility, there were nearly 100 pages of deficiencies identified at that one residence alone.

“This strips an individual of their dignity and respect. No one who is a vulnerable individual should be placed in this situation,” said the director of health.

Tennessee state officials believe the state has some of the finest health care professionals and health care treatment facilities in the U.S. While most of these professionals are caring and competent individuals, there are problems that can arise from faulty institutions. For this reason, the state’s Department of Health asks that you file a complaint if you feel that the treatment that you or a loved one is receiving from a nursing home in the state is unacceptable.

Tennessee Nursing Home Complaint Activity (2010):

-There were 325 licensed nursing homes in the state.

-Nursing homes received nearly 1,540 complaints.

-There were 300 nursing homes with one or more complaints filed. These homes accounted for more than 90 percent of all of the state’s nursing homes.

-There were nearly 40 nursing homes that had 10 or more complaints filed against them. These residences accounted for more than 11 percent of the homes.

-One nursing home went bankrupt.

-There were 12 homes that were cited with standard level care.

-Five nursing homes were cited and ordered to pay a total of more than $1,569,000.

-Five nursing homes had admissions suspended.

ThirdAge.com offers residents of Tennessee with a list of the top-rated nursing homes in Knoxville. Do your homework before choosing a nursing home facility for your or your loved ones.

If you or an elderly member of your family has experienced nursing home abuse in Knoxville else in any of the surrounding areas, contact the Hartsoe Law Firm. For a free appointment to discuss your rights, call (865) 804-1011.

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