According to an article on WRAL.com, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has recommended that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services fine Britthaven of Chapel Hill nursing home for violations that led to the hospitalization of six patients in February. One patient, 84-year-old Rachel Holliday, died.
Ms. Holliday and eight other patients tested positive for opiates, powerful and controlled pain medications–and many of them had not been prescribed opiates at all.
Angela Almore, 44, of 724 Berwick Valley Lane in Cary, was indicted in June on one count of second-degree murder and six counts of felony patient abuse. Almore worked as a registered nurse at Britthaven. Prosecutors allege that Almore drugged the patients to make them more manageable. [from WRAL.com]
After an extensive investigation, the DHHS Nursing Home Licensure Section found that Britthaven of Chapel Hill “didn’t ensure patients were protected from abuse, its services didn’t meet professional standards, unnecessary drugs were prescribed and significant medication errors occurred.”
The requested fines were $2,500.00 for each violation, for a total of $20,000.00.
HensonFuerst’s Nursing Home Abuse team continues to conduct an independent investigation into these and other episodes of nursing home abuse and neglect. If you have questions about potential abuse, we’re here to provide answers. Call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-4LAW-MED.