State Gives Families New Tool to Check on Nursing Homes
Putting someone you love in a nursing home or other assisted-care facility is an act of trust, especially if you can’t be there every day. Most caregivers are worthy of that trust -- but a few horrific stories of nursing home abuse have taught us to be vigilant. The State of Florida has laws and programs in place to ensure that nursing homes, hospitals and other health care facilities remain safe. The resulting reports are public information, but until recently, they were only available in physical form.
As the Orlando Sentinel reported, that changed recently, when the state Agency for Health Care Administration started posting inspection reports online. To view the reports, visit the Consumer Resources page on the AHCA’s Web site and choose “Health Care Facility and Provider Inspection Reports.” In a brief search, I pulled up two pages of reports on nursing homes alone in Broward County. Most noted minor problems, but I found one that said staff members consistently ignore residents’ requests for help. One resident was left on the toilet for 10 minutes without help getting up, while another visually impaired resident was forced to eat with his or her (it didn’t specify) hands because the staff didn’t help.
This collection of online records is a great tool for families considering a new health care facility of any type, including nursing homes. Unfortunately, because of state laws, it can’t publish the reports of the most serious mistakes -- the ones that lead to a wrongful death or a serious personal injury. It also doesn’t have too many reports from before this year. But it’s a great starting point for families trying to get the best care possible for their loved ones.
If your best research and efforts haven’t protected your family from serious medical mistakes or disrespectful and negligent treatment, you can file a Florida nursing home abuse or medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact Cohn, Smith & Cohn for help understanding more about your legal options and your rights.
