One of the leading long-term care facilities, Athena Health Care, is facing various lawsuits at several of their nursing homes. There are multiple accounts against Athena Health Care for poor practices, prompting individuals to take legal action against them.
What You Need To Know About The Controversy
Athena Health Care Systems, one of the largest care providers based in Connecticut, is facing lawsuits from three New England states.
According to local news, the lawsuits filed against the big company accused them of negligence to patients, failing to pay the rightful benefits of their employees, and not paying temporary workers during their employment.
Read our story on Self-care Tips For Nurses To Combat Burnout
Nursing Home Lawsuit History
In 2019, the company started gaining newsworthy popularity among the community. A death-related case involving the Oxford Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, located in Haverhill, Massachusetts, a rehab facility handled and under the supervision of Athena.
In a tragic occurrence at the rehab, 76-year-old Robert Boucher, unfortunately, lost his life due to an attack by his roommate, Jose Veguilla.
The incident left many residents in disbelief as this is their first experience with such violence at their home. An investigation into the matter soon followed to ascertain why the staff didn’t respond in time to prevent this tragedy.
A few lawsuits were also filed for non-payment. One of the suits was for a hefty amount of $2 Million, citing non-payment to temporary workers. In addition, an Iowa Insurance firm sued for an outstanding sum of more than $6 Million, in unpaid claims.
Care Given At Home Nursing Home Lawsuit
Care Given At Home LLC and five other temporary employment firms have initiated legal action against the company, asserting that they are owed an aggregate of $142,000 for providing employees since 2021 to cover staffing shortages at their facilities.
A consent order was dispatched to Athena’s Middlesex Health Care Center, appointing an individual nurse consultant to investigate staffing ratios and drug administration, and to keep track of bed sore incidents.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued three consent orders due to patient safety concerns and staffing shortages. The following facilities have received the said consent order:
- Plymouth Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Malborough Hills Rehabilitation and Health Care Center
- Oxford Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
Rhode Island officials also issued a consent order for unhealthy conditions. This includes patients who had been eating food on Styrofoam plates for 6 months.
After numerous overdosage of substances, Athena has been held responsible and is paying a hefty fine worth $1.75 Million due to the negligence of their facilities failing to properly monitor their residents. Then-Attorney General Maura Healey reported this information in an official press release issued on Massachusetts’ website near the close of December.
Families And Residents File 518 Complaints
Mairead Painter, the State of Connecticut Ombudsman, is extremely concerned about the increasing complaints from families and residents, such as patients stuck in bed, medicines not supplied, and missing meals.
Her office has received over 518 complaints from October 2021 until September 2022 regarding the nursing home’s negligence. She felt like these were just a rough estimate and more likely an undercount and many more might have been unreported yet.
Patty Bausch, 62, has been living at the Newtown Rehabilitation and Health Care Center for the last four years. Staff shortages have caused long wait times for the patient to get changed, leading to an increased risk of urinary tract infections.
“Sometimes you have to wait two, maybe three hours to have your brief changed,” Bausch said in a recent conversation. “You’re sitting in a wet brief for that amount of time. It’s terrible. We feel so helpless.”
Staff shortages have led to decreased quality of care, such as shower assistance, late meals, and the absence of daily activities.
How Can Nurses Make The Most Impact In This Situation?
Nurses have not only an obligation, but a responsibility to uphold the highest standard of care for their residents. Additionally, they must promote and ensure optimal safety and health for all those in their charge. It is imperative to report any incidents of careless behavior or misconduct straight away.
Refuse any unsafe assignments or ratios as ensuring quality care and safety should always take precedence. You should document each instance.
If there is something you object to, then don’t be shy about expressing yourself and keep a paper trail. It may be wise to speak with an experienced medical attorney about the possibilities of investing in malpractice insurance.
Read our article: Are Nurses Trained For The Reality Of Workplace Violence?