Resident Fall Due to Improper Use of Van Lift
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with diagnoses of Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder was not properly protected from neglect during transportation to a hospital. The facility's medical driver failed to ensure that the van lift was in the correct position before assisting the resident out of the vehicle. As a result, the resident fell from the van, striking the left side of their body, and required immediate evaluation and treatment by hospital staff and paramedics. Facility documentation, including a witness statement from the medical driver and confirmation from the Director of Nursing, indicated that the lift was not properly positioned and that this failure directly led to the resident's fall. The incident was reported to the state survey office, and it was confirmed that the facility did not adhere to its own policy regarding the prevention of neglect, as necessary precautions were not taken to avoid physical harm to the resident.