IDPH has cited and fined Parkshore Estates Nursing & Rehab when the facility failed to treat a resident’s Hepatitis C infection over a period of eight months, despite multiple orders for treatment being written by healthcare professionals. This systemic failure in the facility’s care led to the resident’s Hepatitis C remaining untreated, ultimately resulting in liver damage, the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the progression to untreatable cancer.
The resident’s story began late last year, when laboratory tests revealed a positive Hepatitis C antigen result. Just three days later a Nurse Practitioner recognized the seriousness of this diagnosis and ordered a referral for an infectious disease consultation. However, this would be the first of many orders that went unfollowed.
As months passed without action, the resident’s condition continued unaddressed. Early in the new year a Physician also ordered an infectious disease consult, echoing the Nurse Practitioner’s concerns. Yet again, no action was taken by the facility.
The situation grew more urgent about 6 weeks later, when another positive Hepatitis C antigen result was recorded. On the same day, the Physician ordered Hepatitis C genealogy and viral load tests, attempting to gather more information about the resident’s condition. The Nurse Practitioner, still concerned, ordered additional referrals for infectious disease consultations.
As spring arrived, there was still no evidence that any of these orders had been carried out. The Physician, growing increasingly worried, reordered the Hepatitis C tests on two separate occasions. These repeated orders underscored the critical nature of the resident’s untreated condition.
The consequences of this prolonged inaction became tragically clear when the resident was admitted to the hospital. During this stay the Physician who supervised the resident’s care became alarmed upon discovering the untreated Hepatitis C diagnosis. The resident was now facing a grim reality: a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma that had already spread to other areas of the body.
The hospital’s oncology team delivered the bad news. Due to the resident’s malnutrition and the advanced state of the disease, they determined that the resident was beyond the window for cancer treatment. In mid Summer a somber goal of care meeting was held, resulting in the decision to elect hospice care for the resident.
In the aftermath of these events the hospital Physician expressed his frustration and sadness, stating, “If the facility had treated the diagnosis of Hepatitis C, the resident’s cancer could have been prevented.” This statement highlighted the tragic missed opportunities for intervention.
The full extent of the facility’s failure became clear when the Director of Nursing confirmed that there was no documentation of the resident ever being seen by an infectious disease provider or of any of the ordered Hepatitis C tests being completed.
This systemic failure in the facility’s care led to the resident’s Hepatitis C remaining untreated, ultimately resulting in liver damage, the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the progression of cancer to an untreatable stage. What began as a treatable condition ended in a difficult decision for hospice care, serving as a stark reminder of the critical importance of following through on medical orders in healthcare facilities.
One of our core beliefs is that nursing homes are built to fail due to the business model they follow and that unnecessary accidental injuries and wrongful deaths of nursing home residents are the inevitable result. Our experienced Chicago nursing home lawyers are ready to help you understand what happened, why, and what your rights are. Contact us to get the help you need.
