A Chicago-area nursing home is fighting a $100,000 fine that was levied due to a spate of heroin overdoses suffered by residents.
In February, a visiting female sold small zippered baggies of white powder to several of the residents at Continental Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Chicago.
Five patients from the same floor who were all in their 40s and 50s were rushed to the hospital. They all had similar symptoms. An investigation by the Illinois Department of Public Health investigated, it was revealed they had all overdosed on heroin.
One patient, who is 33-years-old, said she received the powder from a female who was visiting a relative and immediately snorted it. She claimed she didn’t remember much afterward until she regained consciousness with paramedics standing over her.
All of the patients recovered. However, two of the patients used heroin again just hours after returning to the facility. One of those people nodded off during an investigation with a state inspector. The state inspector was informed that the patient had gotten high that morning.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) imposed a fine of $76,000 for violations from the February incident. Additionally, the Department of Public Health imposed a $25,000 fine for failure to properly monitor and treat residents with drug addictions.
This is not the first time that a patient at Continental has overdosed on heroin. A 56-year-old patient overdosed in September of 2015. The patient was found on the floor by his bed with packets of white powder lying next to him.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of neglect or abuse while residing in a nursing facility, you may be entitled to compensation. Let the attorneys at Schenk Smith help you. Contact us today.
