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Failure to Notify Patients About COVID-19 Diagnoses in the Facility
Trying to fight against COVID-19 means fighting with information. When more information is shared, the more likely it is that future outbreaks can be prevented. In a nursing home, for example, it is important for residents and families to be notified about any COVID-19 diagnoses in the facility.
If residents are told about a COVID-19diagnosis, they can take steps to protect themselves. They can increase hand-washing or social distancing. If staff know about a COVID-19 case in the nursing home they can then contact trace to see who else may be exposed and can quarantine anyone affected by COVID-19. They can also take prompt steps to treat COVID-19 patients and to reassure family.
Failure to Share Information About COVID-19 in Nursing HomesNursing homes that panic and try to keep information about COVID-19 diagnosis in the facility a secret put residents at grave risk. Residents in a nursing home with poor transparency may not realize they are at risk and may not be taking extra precautions they need to stay safe. In addition, staff and nurses at a nursing home may not have enough information to correctly treat residents who may have COVID-19.
There are many reasons why a nursing home in Hialeah, Coral Gables, or another South Florida community may not want to share information about COVID-19 exposure in a nursing home. They may fear legal claims or panic on the part of families. They may worry about negative PR which can impact revenue or may not be monitoring enough to notice when COVID-19 occurs. However, there is no excuse for a lack of transparency and putting residents at risk.
There are many ways nursing homes can improve transparency, reduce risk for residents, and reassure families:
- By publishing information about COVID-19 exposure and cases in internal emails
- By sharing COVID-19 exposure and diagnosis with nurses and staff at the home
- By monitoring staff and residents regularly so staff know when COVID-19 diagnoses occur
- By contacting families promptly and directly if a family member has tested positive for COVID-19
- By having a testing system or having COVID-19 tests on hand to allow information to be gathered
- By documenting testing and results carefully
If you have a loved one in a nursing home who has been exposed to COVID-19, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free case evaluation. You can have your free, no obligation case consultation via a secure online connection or over the phone for your safety and peace of mind. Our legal staff have more than six decades of combined experience and have helped thousands of plaintiffs recover tens of millions of dollars for their losses and injuries.
If you have been kept in the dark about a COVID-19 outbreak at a family member’s nursing home and now have lost a loved one or are facing a significant COVID-19 battle in the family because of that negligence, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation. We can help you determine whether you have a claim.
