Thursday, August 12, 2010

CA nursing home fined $100,000 after man suffers fatal head injury

A Northern California nursing home was fined $100,000 after its staff allegedly failed to prevent a patient from falling twice and suffering a fatal head injury for which he was not treated, state public health officials announced this week.

The 85-year-old patient, who had a heart condition and diabetes, was supposed use a walker and be supervised when walking, according to a state investigator’s report released Tuesday on Pilgrim Haven Health Facility in Los Altos.

But a state investigator found Pilgrim Haven staff failed to install an electronic fall monitor as ordered by the patient’s doctor and also failed to ensure that the patient’s walker was within reach. On Oct. 3, staff members discovered the man sitting on the floor of his room, having fallen and scratched his head, according to a fax sent to his doctor.

Los Altos nursing home fined $100,000 after man suffers fatal head injury

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