Crestview Health and Rehabilitation Center complaint alleges pressure-wound neglect before resident’s death
The complaint alleges that Crestview Health and Rehabilitation Center failed to prevent and treat pressure wounds in a bed-bound stroke survivor. She had been its resident since 2005. She lost over 11 percent of her body weight in six months by May 2021 and had a left-buttock pressure wound by July 7, 2021. On July 17, 2021, hospital nursing staff treating a sacral pressure wound indicated to her family that she was not receiving proper care. She was hospitalized twice more that month before her health declined. She died on August 5, 2021 of acute respiratory failure, severe sepsis with septic shock, and dementia. Her death certificate notes the sepsis began about two weeks earlier.
Overview
This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a skilled nursing facility did not prevent or treat a resident’s pressure wounds before her death.
Chronology
The complaint alleges as follows:
- The resident was admitted to Crestview in 2005 after a stroke left her bed-bound, with a history that included diabetes and hemiplegia.
- By May 24, 2021 she had lost 11.15 percent of her body weight over six months.
- On July 7, 2021 a pressure wound measuring 0.8 by 0.6 by 0.3 centimeters was found on her left buttock.
- She was hospitalized at Grady Memorial Hospital on July 17, 2021 for low blood sugar, where staff found and packed a sacral pressure wound.
- Hospital nursing staff indicated to her family that the wound’s severe state showed she was not receiving proper care.
- On July 25, 2021 she was hospitalized again for dysuria and low blood pressure. Her health rapidly declined, and she died on August 5, 2021. Listed causes were acute respiratory failure, severe sepsis with septic shock, and dementia.
Alleged failures
The complaint alleges the following failures:
- Crestview did not institute an appropriate care plan for pressure-wound prevention and did not provide adequate measures to prevent the wounds from developing.
- It did not properly implement care to heal existing areas of breakdown or use appropriate interventions to mitigate malnutrition.
- Crestview was chronically understaffed, its staff were inadequately trained, and it did not maintain complete records of her care.
- The complaint alleges the facility’s conduct showed willful misconduct, wantonness, and an entire want of care raising a presumption of conscious indifference.
- The complaint pleads professional, simple, and general negligence, and negligence per se under federal nursing-home regulations. It also pleads violation of the Georgia Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities and statutory remedies for nursing-home violations. It pleads breach of contract, failure to provide sufficient and trained staff, and negligent hiring, retention, management, and supervision. It pleads vicarious liability and punitive damages, and attaches an expert affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.