Placerville Pines Care Center in Sacramento is facing $100,000 in fines after state inspectors alleged that nursing home negligence caused the death of a patient at the facility. According to a news report in KCRA News, the Placerville nursing home got an AA citation from the California Department of Public Health. Investigators say the facility failed to adequately assess the patient and notify the physician when the patient's condition changed. State investigators found that this failure directly contributed to the patient's death.

Nursing Home Negligence Citations

The state of California has the statutory authority to impose fines against nursing facilities it licenses as a way to enforce remedies for poor care. State citations are normally categorized as Class B, A or AA. Class AA is the highest category and is usually imposed for the most serious violation or case of negligence, which directly leads to the death of a nursing home patient.

My heart goes out to the family of this nursing home patient, who died because he or she did not receive the level of care that was expected from this nursing home. It is no doubt a heartbreaking loss for the patient's family. I offer my deepest sympathies to them.

Nursing home abuse and negligence cases are at an all-time high in the United States as more and more of the baby boomer generation head to these facilities. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study that was released recently shows the number of distressed nursing homes is at least four times higher than what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates. According to the GAO list, there are 40 nursing homes here in California with extremely poor living conditions and the worst performance. California apparently has the highest number of these "special focus" nursing homes that have the poorest quality of care.

An Experienced California Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

A number of these deaths in nursing homes can be attributed to the problem of understaffing. Nursing homes, especially for-profit facilities, tend to keep their employee numbers low in order to maximize profits. What happens then is that patients do not get the level of care and attention they need. Diseases and infections go unnoticed, health conditions go untreated and the seniors' needs are simply not met. In my opinion, nursing homes are obligated to provide quality care to their patients. There is little room for any type of negligence here, especially, when taking into account the infirmities and poor health of the residents.

If your loved one has been neglected or abused in a nursing home, please consult with an experienced California personal injury lawyer to find out more about your legal rights and options. Taking action against these facilities that don't take proper care of their vulnerable residents is the best way to deter such behavior in the future.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

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