The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 03:04 PM
TN Health Commission Suspends New Admissions To Westmoreland Health And Rehabilitation Center In Knoxville
According to an investigation by the Tennessee Division of Health Care Facilities, a woman living in the nursing home fell on her knees in an incident that happened November 11, 2017. The patient complained daily of pain in her legs and knees and had bruising and swelling, according to a state report. The investigation revealed that neither the physician or nurse practitioner was notified of the patient's pain.
The patient required two staff members to help with mobility. The investigation found that only one staff member was helping the patient at the time of the incident. State investigators said they found a written statement completed by a CNA dated November 11, 2017, "I was in the middle of changing patient sheets, when patient rolled over. She slid out of the bed and landed on her knees and fell toward her left side and did not hit her head."
Five days later, on November 16, 2017, an x-ray was ordered for the patient and revealed fractures in both her knees.
The director of nursing and the family was told the results of the x-ray and a orthopedic consultation was ordered for November 20, 2017.
Between November 16 and 20, the patient continued to complain of pain, and was soon admitted to the hospital due to the severity of the fractures, according to the state report. She died at the hospital on December 12, 2017.
A state report revealed interviews with staff revealed a sign in the nurse's station which instructed staff to never call the medical director or nurse practitioner until "contact has been made with the on-call nurse manager."
