nursing home infections

Meadowbrook Manor in Bolingbrook has Deadliest COVID-19 Outbreak in Illinois

May 15, 2020 | The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

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Meadowbrook Manor is a 298-bed nursing home in Bolingbrook, Illinois that participates in Medicare and Medicaid. According to recent IDPH numbers, they are facing a major COVID-19 outbreak with 176 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 26 deaths, the most deaths in any long-term care facility in Illinois.

Medicare.gov gives the facility two out of five stars (below average) based on staffing and health inspections. Meadowbrook Manor’s staffing levels are lower than average, with residents receiving 59 minutes of licensed registered nursing time per day versus 1 hour and 34 minutes nationally, and 1 hour and 23 minutes of a nursing aide’s time compared to a national average of 2 hours and 18 minutes.

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Violations

COVID-19 at City View Multicare Center in Cicero: Nursing Home Struggling with Shocking Coronavirus Outbreak

May 13, 2020 | The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

City View Multicare Center is a for-profit nursing home located in Cicero, Illinois. They participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and have 485 beds. Currently, they are one of many nursing homes in Illinois battling a severe outbreak of COVID-19. As of May 11, 2020, 262 residents and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 and 11 people have died at the nursing home.

Medicare.gov gives them one out of five stars (much below average) based on recent health inspections and staffing levels. Regarding staffing, residents at City View Multicare receive 11 minutes of care from a registered nurse per day, compared to a national average of 41 minutes, and 52 minutes of a nursing aide’s time compared to 2 hours and 18 minutes nationally.

A government health inspection in 2019 found 18 health deficiencies; an inspection in 2018 found 18 as well, and 10 deficiencies were found in 2017. In the last 3 years, City View Multicare has had 17 complaints filed by residents or others that resulted in citations. Health inspections in 2019 found that the facility failed to:

Study Shows Illinois Nursing Homes Among the Worst for Infection Control: Critics Worry Whether They Can Stop COVID-19

April 1, 2020 | John Risvold

coronavirus-4923544_1920-1-1024x576 During the global COVID-19 pandemic, elderly populations are among the most vulnerable to the virus and its devastating effects. Nursing Homes are especially vulnerable, as elderly or immunocompromised residents are clustered together.

An analysis by the Chicago Tribune finds that federal nursing home inspection records show that Illinois’ nursing home facilities are among the worst in the nation for preventing patient infections. The Tribune found that one of the major factors leading to poor infection rates is a failure to follow rules to prevent and contain infections.

The Tribune analysis found that 642 out of 723 Illinois nursing homes, or 89%, have been cited for violating infection control regulations at least once since 2016. Moreover, the Tribune found 77 facilities in the Chicago area that had three or more citations since 2016. Nine of those had five or more citations and one had seven. This is especially troubling at the present time, as preventing the spread of COVID-19 requires nursing homes to strictly adhere to infection control measures.

Preventing COVID-19 at Nursing Homes

March 18, 2020 | Shawn Collins

corona-4930541_1920 As we now know from the tragic deaths at a Seattle area nursing home, the elderly and patients in nursing and long-term care facilities–especially those with underlying health conditions– are most at risk from the coronavirus. That is why it is so important for your loved one’s nursing home to be extra vigilant at preventing infections during this critical time. All long-term care facilities should be following the special nursing home guidelines from the CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients and staff.

CDC Guidelines for Nursing Homes

Restrict all visitors except for certain compassionate care situations, such as end of life residents. In these situations, the visitor should be limited to a specific room only.