Two Louisville Nursing Homes Named in Senate’s Report of Facilities With ‘Poor Care’

On Monday, June 3, almost 400 nursing homes nationwide had their names released because of their poor safety records. The list of names was made public by U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (PA-R) and Bob Casey (PA-D). Six on the list are in Kentucky, and two are located right here in Louisville. The two Louisville nursing homes named were Klondike Center and Springhurst Health and Rehab.

Here’s what you need to know about Klondike Center:

• The facility was rated “Much Below Average” on the federal Nursing Home Compare website.
• A federal report in May 2018 stated that staff failed to immediately contact a resident’s doctor for medication that was needed.
• The same resident experienced elevated ammonia levels from the lack of medication. High ammonia levels cause confusion and tiredness. They can also lead to coma or death in serious cases.
• In August 2018, a resident accused a male staff member of sexual assault. The nursing home did not remove him from his position and did not train staff in abuse prevention after the allegation, even though both are standard practice.
• The facility was fined $13,627 in November 2018 and $104,878 in October 2017 for penalties.

And here’s what you need to know about Springhurst Health and Rehab:

• The facility received a one-star rating on Medicare.gov and multiple complaints in the past few years.
• They also received 23 health citations, which is 3 times higher than the average number of citations given nationwide.
• In January 2019, a medication cart was left unlocked and unattended in the hallway.
• Investigators found undated, open, and expired food and drinks in the facility. Chemicals were also stored in the same areas as food was prepared.
• The walk-in freezer did not have a thermometer.
• The facility was fined $250,023 in May 2018 and $88,021 in May 2017 for penalties.
• A resident with a burn wound had unchanged dressings and was not showered as required.

These two nursing homes in Louisville—and hundreds of others nationwide—have obvious improvements to make in safety and care of patients. Even nursing homes with five-star ratings have corrections to make in their practice standards. As a start, facilities could increase staffing and required minimum training. On top of training, improving pay and benefits for staff could encourage a better work culture, which translates to better care for patients. Nursing homes could also shift their focus to be more patient centered. When the patient’s needs are at the core of everything the facility does, they are less likely to stray from regulation.

If you or your loved one is at one of these listed facilities, or another facility with shortcomings, contact Thomas Law Offices in Louisville. Our support can help you get the justice you deserve for the mistreatment endured at a nursing home.