Ethylene Oxide/Sterigenics Updates

Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

Gun-violence-protest-300x225A new bill has passed the Illinois General Assembly that will help make it easier for victims of gun violence to receive justice, and to protect Illinois residents before they experience the horrifying consequences of gun violence themselves. Both the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate have passed the Bill, and Governor J.B. Pritzker only needs to add his signature for the Bill to officially become law. Pritzker has already confirmed his intention to do so.

House Bill 218, also referred to as the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act, aims to open gun manufacturers to civil lawsuits from the Illinois Attorney General and citizens of Illinois for marketing their products fraudulently or deceptively. The law specifically outlaws gun advertising, manufacture, or sale that encourages illegal paramilitary activity or targets children under 18.

Illinois’ Firearm Industry Responsibility Act intends to define the limits of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PCLAA) passed by the Bush Administration in 2005, which has been wrongfully used by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and lawmaking groups as a means of sheltering gun manufactures from any legal accountability or consequence when their guns are used for criminal activity.

newborn-220142_1280-1024x682Graco has issued a recall of approximately 51,000 of their infant inclined sleepers because they pose a suffocation risk. While no deaths have occurred with the Graco infant inclined sleepers, there have been a number of infant deaths linked to other, very similar products. The inclined sleepers that are being recalled by Graco have been sold as accessories to the following Graco playards:

  • Pack ‘n Play Day2Dream Playard with Bedside Sleeper
  • Pack ‘n Play Everest Playard

COVID-19-nurseSymphony of Joliet is one of several nursing homes across Illinois that are facing shocking outbreaks of COVID-19. As of June 5th, 2020, the facility has had 132 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 25 deaths, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. To understand that in context, Symphony of Joliet only has 214 beds and an average occupancy of about 169 residents. Even given that some of the 132 infections are among staff, the sheer number of COVID-19 cases at Symphony of Joliet shows that the virus spread to an alarming number of residents at the nursing home.

Moreover, the size of the COVID-19 outbreak at Symphony of Joliet is outside the norm when compared with other nursing homes in Will County. The statistics below show the number of infections and deaths at several other nursing homes in Joliet that are faring better:

  • Joliet Terrace – Joliet: 120 beds, 3 cases, 0 deaths

elderly-hands-CeZypKDceQc-unsplash-1024x934Meadowbrook Manor–a large nursing home in Bolingbrook with 298 beds– is one of the nursing homes facing the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in Illinois. As of May 29, 2020, the facility had reported 188 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents and 40 deaths–the highest reported death toll at any nursing home in the state. Considering that the average number of residents at Meadowbrook Manor is usually 244, these numbers are shocking. At this occupancy rate, as many as 77% of the residents at Meadowbrook Manor in Bolingbrook may have been infected with COVID-19. Even if every bed at Meadowbrook Manor was occupied, that would still work out to 63% of residents possibly infected. It’s hard to fathom how that could happen.

For comparison, here are the statistics on COVID-19 at some other senior facilities in Will County or in nearby DuPage County:

  • Meadowbrook Manor in Naperville, 245 beds, 37 cases, and 3 deaths

nursing-home-patientAs coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise at Illinois nursing homes, Alden Estates has emerged as the nursing home facing the worst COVID-19 outbreak in Naperville. As of June 12, 2020, the facility had reported 94 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents and 21 deaths. Considering that the number of residents at Alden Estates of Naperville is usually 131–according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services–these numbers are staggering. Moreover, Alden Estates accounts for 41% of Naperville’s COVID-19 cases and 62% of the city’s coronavirus deaths.

For comparison, here are the statistics on COVID-19 at similar nursing homes in Naperville that are faring much better:

  • Arista Healthcare: 153 beds, 11 cases, 0 deaths

George-Floyd-munshots-_vAC0je-hKo-unsplash-1024x683White public officials have rushed before TV cameras to proclaim that the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police was the work of “one bad apple”, or a cop “gone rogue”—a statement then typically followed by the assurance that, “the great majority of police officers are not racists.” 

 African Americans have always seen such statements for what they are:  white people letting themselves off the hook.  White people refusing to acknowledge the depth and breadth of racism in America which, while it may be manifested in one ugly act at a time by one ugly racist at a time, has been going on for centuries; and extends far further and deeper than merely how black Americans are treated by police forces.

 One bad apple”? Really?  That’s it?

hand-3666974_1920-1-300x200Bria of Geneva, a for-profit nursing home, is located at 1101 E. State St. in Geneva, Illinois. They participate in both Medicare and Medicaid programs and have 107 certified beds. Bria of Geneva, like many other nursing homes in Chicago’s western suburbs, is facing a major outbreak of COVID-19. Since April, 75 of their 91 residents and 37 of their employees have tested positive for COVID -19. Sadly, 24 residents–more than a quarter of all the residents at the facility–have died. Lawsuits have been filed and families want answers

U.S. News & World Report rates Bria of Geneva as average, giving them 3 out of 5 stars. Medicare.gov gives them four out of five stars (above average) based on staffing levels and recent health inspections.

Medicare Health Inspections

Coronavirus-at-nursing-home-300x209Symphony of Joliet is a for-profit nursing home located at 306 N Larkin Ave. in Joliet, Illinois. They participate in both Medicaid and Medicare programs and have 214 beds. After learning the facility was facing one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Illinois, Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk called for a state investigation into Symphony of Joliet. Since then, officials at the facility have said they believe the virus may have been spread by a maintenance manager who assembled dining tables in as many as 40 patient rooms, unaware that he had already been infected with coronavirus. As of May 12th, 2020, Symphony of Joliet had 127 cases of COVID-19, 24 resident deaths, and 2 staff deaths (including the maintenance manager).

Medicare.gov gives Symphony of Joliet two out of five stars (below average) based on staffing levels and recent health inspections. Staffing levels are about average at the nursing home: residents receive care from a nursing aide for 1 hour and 56 minutes a day, compared to 2 hours and 18 minutes nationally, and care from a licensed nurse for 1 hour and 22 minutes a day versus a national average of 1 hour and 34 minutes.

Medicare Health Inspections at Symphony of Joliet

elderly-woman-in-mask-300x204Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion is a for-profit nursing home located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. This large, 222-bed facility participates in both Medicare and Medicaid. Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion is one of many Illinois nursing homes facing significant outbreaks of COVID-19. As of May 23, 2020, 30 people at the nursing home have died due to COVID-19 and another 210 residents and staff have tested positive.

Medicare.gov gives them one out of five stars (much below average) based on staffing levels and recent health inspections. Staffing levels at Woodbridge Nursing pavilion are low: residents receive care from a registered nurse for 13 minutes per day, compared to the national average of 41 minutes, and 1 hour and 30 minutes of care from a nursing aide, compared to 2 hours and 18 minutes nationally.

In 2019, government health inspections found 20 health deficiencies; 13 were found in 2018, and 17 deficiencies were found in 2017. In the last 3 years, 16 complaints have been filed by residents or others that resulted in citations to Woodbridge Nursing Pavilion.

hands-2906458_1920-1024x683Peterson Park Health Care Center is a nursing home located at 6141 North Pulaski Road in Chicago, Illinois. It is a large, 196-bed facility–with for-profit ownership—that participates in Medicaid and Medicare. Like many other long-term care facilities across Illinois, Peterson Park is facing a major COVID-19 outbreak. 126 residents and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 and 17 people have died as of May 12th, 2020.

US News & World Report gives the facility 2 out of 5 stars. Medicare.gov gives Peterson Park Health Care Center three out of five stars (average) on based on recent staffing levels and health inspections.

In 2019, government health inspections found 4 health deficiencies; in 2018, 14 health deficiencies were found, and in 2017, 10 deficiencies were found. In the last 3 years, the Peterson Park Health Care Center has had 10 complaints, filed by residents or others, which resulted in citations. 2019 health inspections found that the facility failed to:

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