By Garret DeReus

A February 2020 inspection of Southern Hills Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Shreveport, Louisiana by the Louisiana Department of Health uncovered multiple violations. The inspection, completed on February 28, 2020, identified concerns ranging from dignity violations to medication errors.

Dignity and Patient Rights Violations (F550)

On February 26, 2020, inspectors observed staff members failing to maintain patient dignity during care procedures. In one incident, staff left a resident (Resident #70) uncovered during catheter care with “the large room window shades open and no privacy curtain in use…” The resident was heard crying out “cover me” and appeared in distress.

Patient privacy is a fundamental right in the healthcare setting. When healthcare providers fail to maintain patient privacy during intimate procedures like catheter care, it not only violates the patient’s dignity but can also cause significant emotional distress. Failure to respect patient privacy raises concerns as to whether the standards of care is being satisfied.

Call Light Response Issues (F725)

Multiple residents reported significant delays in call light response times. One resident (Resident #73) stated that “twice since her admission to the facility in January she has waited over an hour during the night shift.” The situation became so dire that the resident eventually called 911 for assistance. Another resident (Resident #60) reported staff would “come and turn it off and say they will be right back but don’t return for 30 to 45 minutes.”

Medication Management Problems (F755)

The inspection revealed serious concerns about medication administration. For example, Resident #45’s medication card showed 18 tablets while the narcotic record indicated 20 tablets. In another instance, Review of Resident #137’s prescription medication cards contained 51 tablets of Tramadol, but further review of Resident #137’s individual resident narcotics record for Tramadol
HCL 50 mg revealed a remaining count of 52 tablets.

Proper medication management is crucial for resident safety and health outcomes. When medications aren’t administered correctly or tracked properly, residents face risks ranging from missed doses to potential overdoses. This is particularly concerning with controlled substances, which require strict oversight and documentation.

Staffing Inadequacies (F725)

One of the facility’s employees acknowledged on February 28, 2020, that “the facility is not fully staffed with CNAs” and confirmed “she is always hiring and the turnover is high.” The administrator also confirmed staffing issues and acknowledged “multiple complaints of the call light not being answered timely.”

Quick response to call lights can literally be a matter of life and death in nursing homes. Residents may be experiencing medical emergencies, severe pain, or urgent toileting needs that cannot wait. When call lights go unanswered, residents face increased risks of falls trying to help themselves, medical complications from delayed care, and unnecessary suffering. Even non-emergency needs, like requiring assistance to use the bathroom, become serious dignity issues when residents are forced to wait extended periods for help. Obviously, nursing home residents should not feel so desperate for assistance that they resort to calling 911 for help.

Infection Control Violations (F880)

Inspectors observed improper handling of soiled linens, with staff “carrying them down the hallway without being bagged or in a covered linen hamper.” The facility’s own infection control policy required soiled linen to be “deposited immediately into the soiled linen hamper and replace cover.”

Care Plan Implementation Failures (F656, F657)

According to the Louisiana’s Department’s of Health’s survey, the facility failed to properly implement and update care plans. In one case, Resident #20 experienced a 21.35% weight loss in just one month (from 174.2 pounds on January 1, 2020, to 137 pounds on February 21, 2020) without any updates to their care plan.

Legal Notice and Disclaimer

The violations described above were documented by the Louisiana Department of Health during their February 2020 inspection. The facility may dispute some or all of these findings. This information is provided for educational purposes and should not be considered a complete representation of the facility’s current conditions or practices.

***

Family members with loved ones in nursing homes should remain vigilant about the care their relatives receive. If you observe concerning conditions or care issues in a nursing home, you should report these concerns to the Louisiana Department of Health and consider consulting with legal counsel about your rights and options.

The information in this article is based on a Louisiana Department of Health inspection report dated February 28, 2020. Conditions at the facility may have changed since this inspection.