Understanding Oregon Malpractice: Spread of the Flu in Nursing Homes Could be Preventable Errors
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are supposed to be places where elderly residents receive the care and treatment that they need. This caring treatment includes not just basic hygienic support, wound care, rehabilitate services, and medication administration, but also preventative care. This preventative care includes not just for other ailments such as infections or injuries from falls, but also preventing the spread of infectious diseases during cold and flu season. This is particularly true now with the coronavirus, as neighboring Washington State had a severe coronavirus outbreak in a nursing home. In the winter months colds, flus, and other infectious diseases need to be controlled by a nursing home. If the facility fails to do so, it could be Oregon nursing home malpractice if the spread of the flu in nursing homes is allowed to occur unchecked.
Duty of Care Owed by Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
Oregon nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and rehabilitation centers owe residents a duty of care to protect them from foreseeable and preventable harm. This includes protecting residents against a quick spreading flu or other fold. In elderly residents who may have underlying health issues, preventing the spread of the flu in a nursing home could mean the difference between life and death.
This means that in nursing homes and elderly assisted living facilities need to take certain precautions when they know one or more residents has the flu, a cold, or another contagious or infectious disease. Some of these precautions include the following:
- Quarantining infected residents
- Getting infected residents immediate treatment and medication
- Transferring infected residents to the appropriate healthcare facilities they need, which with elderly patients that is usually a hospital
- Properly disinfecting and cleaning the facility, especially common areas
- Providing proper nutrition and hydration to residence to help keep a natural immune system
- Ensuring that all residents engage in proper hygienic care, including performing basic hygiene with residents as preventative care
- Limiting or preventing guests or contractors who may have a disease such as a cold or flu from entering or working with in the nursing facility
- Protecting the most vulnerable and ill residents from other individuals who may have a cold or the flu
- Requiring staff and ensuring staff maintain their own proper and hygienic methods including using hand sanitizer between residents, washing their hands with soap and water as required by the CDC, and requiring staff were ill or show symptoms of a cold or flu from working with vulnerable residents for working at all
- Reacting quickly to any residents who may have any symptoms of a cold or flu which could spread throughout the nursing home
- With the threat of a coronavirus, contacting the Oregon Department of Health and CDC immediately if there’s a suspected case, and
- Many other common hygienic and proper medical care and treatment precautions.
Damages When an Oregon Nursing Home Fails to Prevent the Spread of the Flu
Because nursing home residents and elderly assisted living facilities have vulnerable populations the spread of the flu could result in significant personal injuries and the wrongful death of many residents. Nursing homes are the arbiter of good health care for these residents that are depending on them with their lives. Nursing homes are therefore responsible for the safety of their residents to prevent infections. When nursing homes fail to prevent the spread of the flu or actually encourage the spread of the flu by failing to take necessary and basic precautions, nursing homes could be liable for any damages caused to residents which include further disability, wrongful death, pain and suffering, increased medical bills, and other damages due to the nursing homes negligence.
Did a Loved One Suffer Damages from the Spread of the Flu in an Oregon Nursing Home? We Might be Able to Help
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect contact the Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Nursing Home Abuse cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
