Nursing Home Infection
Nursing home infection and disease control was a problem before the coronavirus pandemic. USA Today reports nearly 75% of US nursing homes have been cited for failing to track and control infections within the previous 3 years.
Problems With Nursing Home Infections
Nursing homes often place several residents in a shared room. Nurses and caretakers often visit multiple residents in the same room without changing protective equipment. If even one resident or staff member is infected, the infection can quickly spread. The facility needs to follow guidelines to reduce the risk of infecting other residents.
Nurse in gloves demonstrates how easy it is to spread germs.
Infection Control In Nursing Homes
The CDC has specific guidelines for nursing homes to identify and isolate infections. This guidance covers nearly every type of infection imaginable. Every long term care facility has procedures to handle infection control. But, does the facility make sure employees are following procedures?
Pennsylvania Nursing Home Inspections
Pennsylvania requires nursing homes to submit to regular inspections. When a PA nursing home fails inspection, the state issues corrective action and can cite the facility with a fine. Many times, the state will also take action to halt new admissions until the dangers are fixed.
The purpose of the inspection is to find and correct any problems that put residents in danger. Fines act as a motivation for the facility to proactively fix problems. But for many facilities, a fine is only a little slap on the wrist. This is evidenced by how many facilities fail inspections and do the absolute minimum to fix it.
COVID-19 Infection Pandemic
Pennsylvania is one of the hardest-hit states during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why? If you look at the numbers, you see that nearly 70% of coronavirus-related deaths in the state were at long term care facilities. Combine that with the fact that 75% of US nursing homes failed to control outbreaks in the previous 3 years.
Related News: PA State Mandatory COVID-19 Testing For Residents And Staff
It’s easy to understand how large outbreaks of infection happen at nursing homes. For years, they have gotten away with it. But, if you or your elderly loved one have a nursing home infection case you should talk to a lawyer.
Nursing Home Infection Lawsuit
When nursing homes fail to follow infection control guidelines, people get sick. But, small fines from the state don’t do much to fix the problem. Lawsuits against nursing homes have a two-fold result:
- The family can recover money to pay for expenses related to the extra care of their loved one. This could be for hospitalization or funeral expenses.
- Insurance rates for the facility might go up. This motivates the facility to find and fix problems before anyone gets hurt.
In the end, lawsuits against negligent nursing homes improve the quality of life for residents and staff. Talk to an experienced Pennsylvania nursing home infection lawyer for help.
Nursing Home Infection Lawyer In Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the law firm of Haggerty & Silverman has been helping people since 1994. Our caring team is here to help you understand your legal options. If you have grounds for a negligence lawsuit, we can represent you on a contingency basis. This means you don’t pay us any legal fees until we recover money for you.
Free Legal Consultation
Call, text, or email us today to schedule a free legal consultation. Our office is conveniently located in Lancaster City. If you are unable to come to us, we can come to you.