Source: https://venicelawfirm.com/2018/11/21/life-care-center-of-punta-gorda-nursing-home-cited-on-july-24-2018/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 14:37:25+00:00

Document:
Life Care Center of Punta Gorda nursing home is a 180 bed facility located at 450 Shreve Street, Punta Gorda, Florida. On July 24, 2018, investigators with the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration concluded an unannounced inspection at this nursing home. At that time, Florida officials concluded that Life Care Center of Punta Gorda nursing home failed to meet minimum requirements that are set forth under state and federal law. The Agency issued citations of deficiencies against Life Care Center of Punta Gorda at that time.
The citations of deficiencies against Life Care Center of Punta Gorda nursing home included observations that the facility “failed to protect the privacy of the residents’ personal information” and failed to properly label and date food.
The federal Nursing Home Reform Act provides: §483.10(h) Privacy and Confidentiality. The resident has a right to personal privacy and confidentiality of his or her personal and medical records. §483.10(h)(l) Personal privacy includes accommodations, medical treatment, written and telephone communications, personal care, visits, and meetings of family and resident groups, but this does not require the facility to provide a private room for each resident. §483.10(h)(2) The facility must respect the residents right to personal privacy, including the right to privacy in his or her oral (that is, spoken), written, and electronic communications, including the right to send and promptly receive unopened mail and other letters, packages and other materials delivered to the facility for the resident, including those delivered through a means other than a postal service. §483.10(h)(3) The resident has a right to secure and confidential personal and medical records. (i) The resident has the right to refuse the release of personal and medical records except as provided at §483.70(i)(2) or other applicable federal or state laws. (ii) The facility must allow representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to examine a resident’s medical, social, and administrative records in accordance with State law.
Additionally, with regarding to the labeling, storage and handling of food, the federal Nursing Home Reform Act requires the following: §483.60(i) Food safety requirements. The facility must – §483.60(i)(1) – Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory by federal, state or local authorities. (i) This may include food items obtained directly from local producers, subject to applicable State and local laws or regulations. (ii) This provision does not prohibit or prevent facilities from using produce grown in facility gardens, subject to compliance with applicable safe growing and food-handling practices. (iii) This provision does not preclude residents from consuming foods not procured by the facility. §483.60(i)(2) – Store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety.
Florida nursing homes should be held accountable when their actions and misconduct harm members of our family and community. As a Florida nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer, I personally handle cases of nursing home neglect, abuse and negligence in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, Venice, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples and other communities in Florida and seek to shine a light on the for-profit nursing home industry’s frequent and blatant disregard for the care needs of our most vulnerable and elderly citizens. Understaffing and the failure to employ sufficiently trained and caring staff are the root causes of most harm suffered in Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

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