Mouse in the bed. Death by asphyxiation. See 4 MS Coast nursing homes cited for abuse
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The Mississippi Coast area has 27 nursing homes within a 50-mile radius.
One major source you can use to weed out the worst facilities from the best is Medicare. Government officials routinely inspect local nursing homes, whether its to investigate a complaint or confirm the facility complies with U.S. standards.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid services evaluates Mississippi nursing homes and rates each based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures like the number of residents in pain or up to date on flu shots.
Here’s a breakdown of the rating criteria:
Health inspections such as compliance with medicare and medicaid regulations, internal and external complaints, infection control and prevention standards.
The staffing levels, staff turnover, hours worked and hours spent with residents each day.
Quality measures such as flu shots or other vaccinations per care-term, surgery recovery rates and overall performance of nursing home.
Health inspections such as compliance with medicare and medicaid regulations, internal and external complaints, infection control and prevention standards.
The staffing levels, staff turnover, hours worked and hours spent with residents each day.
Quality measures such as flu shots or other vaccinations per care-term, surgery recovery rates and overall performance of nursing home.
You can search the database by location or search for specific facilities by name. In addition to viewing the most recent inspections and nursing home rankings, Medicare identifies every nursing home cited for abuse.
Of the 27 local nursing homes evaluated, four were cited for abuse. “Abuse is defined as the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain or mental anguish,” according to Medicare.
Here are four nursing home facilities within 50 miles of Gulfport, Mississippi, that were cited for abuse.
Sunplex Sub-Acute Center
6520 Sunscope Drive, Ocean Springs
Overall rating: “Much below average,” 1 star out of 5
Federal fines in the last three years: 1 for $140,595 on Aug. 17, 2023
Payment denials by Medicare in the last three years: 0
Total number of health citations in most recent inspection: 16 on June 30, 2022, including failing to keep accurate medical records for a patient.
Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: six, including a citation on Sept. 28, 2023 for
leaving a resident unattended in a transport van for 16 hours and 15 minutes, which resulted in patient missing medication, meals, water and general care.
Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: two
Ocean Springs Health & Rehabilitation Center
1199 Ocean Springs Road, Ocean Springs
Overall rating: “Much below average,” 1 star out of 5
Federal fines in the last three years: two, $15,269 on July 26, 2023 and $9,354 on June 10, 2021.
Payment denials by Medicare in the last three years: 0
Total number of health citations in most recent inspection: 11 on April 29, 2022, including failing to honor resident’s rights to a dignified existence by exposing her during incontinent/catheter care.
Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: three, including when a licensed practical nurse erroneously notified the family, doctor and coroner of the death of a patient who was still alive.
Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: five
Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: 0
Lakeview Nursing Center
16411 Robinson Road, Gulfport
Overall rating: “Much below average,” 1 star out of 5
Federal fines in the last three years: five, $22,925 on May 31, 2023; $378, 976 on March 31, 2023; $983 on April 19, 2021; $655 on April 12, 2021; and $86,745 on Jan. 19, 2021.
Payment denials by Medicare in the last three years: two
Total number of health citations in most recent inspection: 16 on July 20, 2023, including one for failure to provide a clean room. The resident’s soiled wall had peeling paint.
Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: 11, including one on March 31, 2023 for failure to prevent a patient’s constipation resulting in death. Patient had no documented bowel movements for 11 days and later died due to aspiration from vomiting caused by compacted bowels.
Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: seven
Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: four
George Regional Health & Rehab Center
859 Winter St., Lucedale
Overall rating: “Below average,” 2 stars out of 5
Federal fines in the last three years: one, for $56,352 on Oct. 13, 2021
Payment denials by Medicare in the last three years: 0
Total number of health citations in most recent inspection: four on Oct. 13, 2021
Number of complaints in the past three years that resulted in a citation: five, including on on Dec. 7, 2021 for failure to ensure residents were free from rodents. A mouse was seen in the bed of a resident and drippings were found in the beds of four residents and chests of drawers of seven of 16 residents reviewed.
Number of times in the past three years a facility-reported issue resulted in a citation: 0
Number of citations from infection control inspections in the past three years: 0
For more information about local long-term facilities, visit Medicare or the Mississippi Department of Health.
Residents of long-term care facilities have rights that are guaranteed by state or federal laws.
Mississippi’s requirements for nursing homes
Mississippi nursing home residents have dozens of rights and protections under federal law, including:
The right to have sufficient staff to meet your needs on all days and all shifts
The right to receive reasonable notice before changing your room or your roommate
The right to close your door and knock before entering except in case of emergency
The right to have all reasonable requests and inquiries responded to promptly
The right to further education at patient’s expense
To choose your attending physician and pharmacist
The right to consume a reasonable amount of alcohol or use tobacco at patient’s expense unless documented in records to be medically inadvisable
To receive, send and mail unopened correspondence
Private visits at any reasonable hour
Access to a telephone for private communication
The right to share a room with a spouse, if both are residents and/or to have private time with a spouse
The right to confidential treatment of personal and medical records
The right to a safe and clean living environment
To have clothes and bed sheets changed as the need arises
The right to be treated at all times with courtesy, respect, and full recognition of dignity and individuality
The Mississippi Department of Health offers several ways to file a complaint against a nursing home suspected of abuse. An online complaint form is available on their website or you can register a complaint weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling 800-227-7308.
