Nursing facility assessed stiffest fine possible in patient's death
BY EMILY HAGEDORN, Californian staff writer
Thursday, Jul 17 2008 5:08 PM
The state has slapped a Bakersfield skilled nursing facility with the stiffest fine possible after inadequate care killed a patient, it was announced Thursday.
Bakersfield Healthcare Center was fined $100,000 after failing to address adverse medication interactions that resulted in a patient’s death, according to the Department of Public Health.
The patient death occurred when the facility was run by Pleasant Care Corp., and the fine has been paid by that company, said Mary Sue Franklin, executive director of the facility.
LifeHouse Retirement Properties, based in Grand Rapids, now owns the facility.
“It’s not connected to the present owner in any way,” Franklin said.
Preceding bankruptcy, Pleasant Care settled a $1.3 million lawsuit brought by former state Attorney General Bill Lockyer in 2006 as a result of allegations of elder abuse and negligent care. Pleasant Care facilities received more than 160 violations of state regulations over the previous five-year period.
While the incident happened in 2006, the complaint wasn’t filed with the state until July 2007, August said.
Abridged
SOURCE: BakerfieldsDotCom
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