Death Of Nursing Home Patient Attributed To Fall From Mechanical Lift

The oversight of a basic safeguard has been attributed to the death of an 84-year-old nursing home patient who fell from a mechanical lift being used by staff to move her.

An investigation into the incident by the Minnesota Department of Health concluded that two CNA’s at the facility identified as Devine Providence Health Canter failed to properly utilize the straps on the lift intended to keep patients safely in place. While the elderly patient was being moved, she fell head-first from several feet.

After receiving medical attention, the woman’s condition continued to deteriorate and she died several weeks later.

Read more about this mechanical lift accident at a Minnesota Nursing Home here.

Mechanical Lifts In Nursing Homes & Hospitals

Mechanical lifts are considered basic medical equipment at many nursing homes and hospitals and are regularly utilized by staff to move physically disabled patients into and out of bed or wheelchairs. When used correctly, mechanical lifts are considered a far more safe method of moving patients compared with staff moving patients on their own.

Safe operation of mechanical lifts requires that facilities make an investment in training their staff on how to use the equipment and that facilities take steps to keep the machines in good working order. Inattention to either of these areas can result in patient injury— or as we can see from the above situation, even death.

Given that medical facilities have a responsibility to care for patients– regardless of their physical or mental limitations— mechanical lift injuries fall squarely on the shoulders of the facility where the incident occurred. Any patient who suffered an injury during a mechanical lifting procedure should be mindful of the fact that the negligence of the facility and its staff is likely to blame for their circumstance and they are likely entitled to pursue a claim for damages against them.

Related Nursing Homes Abuse Blog Entries:

Shouldn’t Nursing Home Fines Be Reflective Of The Type Of Violation Committed?

Improper Maintenance Of Lift Device Costs Nursing Home Patient Their Life

Poor Training & Under-Staffing Blamed For The Death Of A Nursing Home Patient Who Died From Injuries Sustained After She Was Dropped By A CNA In A Minnesota Facility

Nursing Home Staff Must Take Precautions While Moving & Transferring Disabled Patients To Minimize Risk Of Dropping

Mary Jo Kellogg

My mother was a patient in Silver Cross Nursing Home in Brookhaven, Mississippi. She was dropped during transportation from the home to the hospital for exrays- She was dropped from a lifting machine, breaking her shoulder-I have pictures of teh shoulder- exrays shows teh break, shoulder is black from neck to elbow- Also three days later she is taken into physical therapy, being paralized from waist down and a broken shoulder I asked why she was in physical therapy, and was told everyone has to be up all morning while beds and room is cleaned- She returns from therapy with a bruised temple and bruised jaw-
My mother said they let her fall, she went into a coma 6 hours later and died within 12 hours-
Noone would tell me what happened either injury, no witnesses could be found who would talk about it- This is truly unfair to our elders- I was going through a battle with cancer nd could care for her at home-That is why I have waited so long to seek help for other patients who will go through this this happened all within 5 days from first injury to coma and death. Being injured twice in that time frame blook clots set in and she died of bllod clots in her lungs and arteries.- No signs ever of high chlorestoral or blockage of any kind.
This nursing home is run litterally by two nursies aides- What they say is what gets down, I have heard a pateinet cry bathroom for 45 minuets before any one came- she was next door to me-I have heard an aide slap a patient and the woman cry out dont hit me- a room mate to my mother. I have notes taken when I visited, I have pictures of mother before and after teh bruises- I have pictures of her swolen body when they refused to give her lasix, because she wet teh bed too much- I filed several complaints with the magers office- They didnt bekieve me- but said they would investigate , always coming back to say- it didnt happen-
Dont put your loved one in Silver Croos- Its worse than prison, for they are abused and neglected – with noone to go to for help- They just deny it.-
Nurses aides are given all the work to do with patients, The real registered nurses do computer work and fill the prescriptions each day- There is no such thing as nurses care-
Going through three surgeries , chemo, and radiation , and being 70 yrs. old put me in a disadvantage to care for my 89 yr. old mother at home, and I am an only child-
There needs to be more government inspections at nursing homes if they are going to recieve medicare, medicaid and insurance payments- Also congress should require the homes to obtain malpraticen insurance- Which none do- Patients and family are required to sign a release from suing the home for more than 500,000.00- Attorneys dont like to handle cases for this locked in amount- I have asked three already to repesent me-
Since there are no witnesses willing to testify, it would be a hard case to prove, they said!- wow!! pictures dont lie- The computer adds the dates when I develope the pictures- camara adds date when picture is taken-

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