South Carolina’s Spartanburg Hospital for Restorative Care center was cited for the failure to follow a resident’s care plan, which was designed to prevent physical harm to a resident who was a high fall risk.

In order to help a resident with going to the bathroom and taking medication, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) turned off the resident’s bed alarm. The resident had requested to sit for awhile after going to the bathroom, as they were tired of laying down. The LPN left the resident sitting in bed with a call button in their hand.

Don’t Wait. Get Help for Nursing Home Abuse Today.

The LPN left the resident to respond to another resident’s call, but did not turn the first resident’s bed alarm back on. A few minutes later, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) saw the resident lying in their bed. Just a few minutes past this moment, the LPN heard the resident moaning in their room.

The resident was on the floor and bleeding profusely from their nose and mouth. They were immediately taken to the facility’s emergency department. The resident was hospitalized for a few days after suffering multiple facial fractures from the fall.

This resident needed an active bed alarm every time they were in the bed, as they had already been assessed as a high fall risk when admitted to this facility.

It is obvious that this resident should not have been left without their bed alarm due to their high risk for a fall. The Director of Nursing in this facility said the LPN chose to “monitor the resident visually,” but the LPN was in another resident’s room when the resident fell.

While a nursing home can’t prevent every accident, a facility that allows its staff to take shortcuts in resident care puts all residents at risk. The LPN was also rushed to answer another resident’s call, showing a possible strain on staff. Nursing homes are notorious for overworking staff and assigning too many residents for each staff member, which leads to a low quality of care for the vulnerable adults in these nursing homes.

If you suspect nursing home abuse, we will provide a free, confidential case evaluation with no obligation to hire us. With nearly 250 years of shared experience, Joye Law Firm attorneys are consistently recognized by clients and peers at the highest level of professional excellence. We make sure to fight hard for our clients and are honest with them every step of the way. Contact us today.

Don’t Wait. Get Help for Nursing Home Abuse Today.

About the Author

Mark Joye is the Head of the Litigation Department at the Joye Law Firm. A Board-Certified Trial Advocate with nearly 30 years of litigation experience, he currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice and is a past president of the South Carolina Association for Justice. In a recent trial, Joye headed a trial team that secured $17 million for a family killed in a tractor-trailer accident.

Recent Blog Post
Joye Law Firm Staff Picks: What to Do in South Carolina week of March 21-27
What to Do in South Carolina: Staff Picks 3/21/23 – 3/27/23

With five offices located across the state of South Carolina in North Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Summerville, and Clinton, our firm is well-connected to various local events. Every week during our Team Huddle, our staff members share exciting happenings in…

Image of a warning sign labeled "contains asbestos"
Is Asbestos Exposure Considered a Workers’ Comp Case?

When many people think of asbestos exposure, they think of older homes with popcorn ceilings, dated vinyl flooring, and outdated attic and wall insulation. Thankfully, asbestos was phased out of new construction by the mid-1980s, but countless people are still…

Image of a car crash as viewed through a windshield
How to Avoid a Pile-Up Crash

There are few types of crashes on South Carolina’s roads more disruptive and dangerous than multi-vehicle pile-ups. By definition, pile-ups are crashes that involve three or more vehicles. But in many cases, pile-ups involve a dozen or more vehicles. All…

Image of car keys and cannabis
Is Driving While High as Dangerous as Driving While Drunk?

It’s no secret that driving while drunk is extremely dangerous. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that one person was killed in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes in the U.S. in 2020 alone. However, many people are…

Awards & Recognition
Media
CBS News
Fox
NBC
ABC