A failure to properly use a mechanical lift during the transfer of one nursing home resident resulted in a painful and traumatic nursing home fall for one resident. The nursing home fall resulted in a left femur fracture that required surgical intervention, a hospitalization, and extensive therapy.
For many nursing home residents, transfers from wheelchairs to beds or any other resting place require the use of a mechanical lift. Anytime a mechanical lift is utilized, two or more staff members are required to assist in the transfer.
There are different types of mechanical lifts that are used depending on the needs of the resident. For residents who require the most assistance, a Hoyer Lift is often used. A Hoyer lift utilizes a sling that completely supports and lifts the resident.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) report, when the resident first arrived at the facility, the plan of care stated that he needed a portable total body lift for all transfers. At some point, that directive was scratched out, and a handwritten note indicated a “standing mechanical lift” could be used instead.
It was during the use of a standing mechanical lift that the nursing home fall took place. Instead of two people assisting in the transfer, a single certified nurses aide (CNA) was present. The resident was not wearing non-skid socks (an additional intervention called for in the Brentwood Plan of Care). The resident’s foot slipped off of the platform he was supposed to be balanced on, and the fractured femur was the end result.
If you have a loved one who has been the victim of a nursing home fall, and you feel that nursing home neglect is to blame, contact our Chicago nursing home lawyers for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.
Other blog posts of interest:
Improper transfer at Lexington of Streamwood
Improper transfer at Tower Hill Healthcare in South Elgin