St. Marks Lutheran Home
This 61-bed nursing home has a “much below average” rating in its Overall rating, according to Medicare’s annual 2012 inspection. Medicare also rated St. Marks as “much below average” for its Health Inspection rating. Compared to the average number of annual health deficiencies in Minnesota nursing homes for 2012 (6.8) as reported by Medicare, this facility received 18 deficiencies in its November 2011 inspection. This includes St. Marks Lutheran Home’s:
- Failure to provide care by qualified persons according to each resident’s written plan of care;
- Failure to give residents proper treatment to prevent new bed (pressure) sores or heal existing bedsores;
- Failure to ensure that residents with reduced range of motion get proper treatment and services to increase range of motion;
- Failure to give each resident enough fluids to keep them healthy and prevent dehydration
- Failure to keep each resident’s personal and medical records private and confidential;
- Failure to conduct initial and periodic assessments of each resident’s functional capacity; and
- Failure to have enough nurses to care for every resident in a way that minimizes the resident’s well being.
In addition, Medicare has identified three complaints and incidents associated with St. Marks Lutheran Home. These include the facility’s:
- Failure to provide care for residents in a way that builds each resident’s dignity and respect of individuality;
- Failure to make sure that each resident who enters the nursing without a catheter is not given a catheter, and that the residents receive proper services to prevent urinary tract infections and restore normal bladder function; and
- Failure to make sure that the nursing home area is free from accident hazards and risks, and that it provide supervision to prevent avoidable accidents.
In addition, in June 2010 and May 2011, the Minnesota Department of Health substantiated two reports of neglect at St. Marks Lutheran Home:
- In June 2010, MDH substantiated a report of neglect wherein a resident fell while on the toilet, sustaining a hip fracture and a head laceration. The investigation found that the facility failed to comply with the resident’s updated care plan. In addition, the investigation found that the facility had failed to adequately treat the resident’s on-going urinary tract infection. [Report no. H5369049]
- On May 2011, MDH substantiated a report of neglect wherein the facility’s providing pharmacy failed to label a resident’s insulin properly. The investigation found that St. Marks had failed to administer the resident’s insulin on numerous occasions. [Report No. H5369042]
The Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm represents clients in cases involving catastrophic injury caused by nursing homes and other care facilities that fail to provide proper care. If you believe your loved one has been harmed due to a nursing home’s failures, take action and contact the Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm online or call us toll-free at (877) 552-2873 to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
