Vets Home Charged with Neglect

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A paraplegic under treatment in a state run veterans nursing home in Pittsburgh, PA. was left sitting on a bedpan for two days and suffered a pressure ulcer and other injuries as a result, according to a report by state health surveyors.
The report, just recently released, charges the facility with neglect for not only leaving the veteran helpless on a bedpan for two days but also for failing to provide a shower and other sanitary care services.
The unnamed patient at the Southwestern Veterans Center in Pittsburgh suffered actual harm due to a bedpan being left underneath him and peri-care not being completed, the report states.
"The facility failed to make certain that a resident was free from neglect," the report states.
After examining the nursing homes records on a July 12 visit to the 236-bed facility, the surveyors found that the male patient was placed on a special bedpan on June 10 and was found on July 12 in the same situation.
A staffer who examined him at 6:30 a.m. on June 12 described a reddened area approximately 24.5 centimeters in diameter and 1.5 centimeters thick.
The patient had an "unstageable pressure ulcer" and "injury to the sacrum" with the bedpan being a contributing factor.
The patient remained on the bedpan even though he was supposed to be turned and repositioned periodically to prevent bedsores.
Interviews with several staffers involved in the patient's care acknowledged to state surveyors that the bedpan was not removed until June 12.
The report states that additionally the patient was not provided with needed peri-care over the two day period.
The inspectors also cited the center for failing to develop a comprehensive care plan for the same patient.
The facility filed a plan of correction reported the patient's care was being re-assessed and wound care was being provided. They also promised to re-assess the needs of other residents who needed to be repositioned.
The plan also includes staff retraining by Affinity Health Services.The plan calls for the corrective actions to be in place by Sept. 1
Asked to comment on the report, Joan Nissley, spokeswoman for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs said,"The Bureau ensures that the provision of quality health care for our Veteran residents and their spouses is delivered in a caring and dignified manner while ensuring compliance with all appropriate state and federal regulations."