DHS Fines, Cites Nursing Home After Patient Death; Facility Will Appeal
The Department of Health Services has fined Davidson's Residential Homes $25,000 and has issued an "AA" citation -- the state's most severe rating -- after a resident at the Sun Valley Court facility in Merced died in March, the Merced Sun-Star reports.
According to a state investigation, the facility did not seek urgent medical intervention that had been ordered after the resident's flu-like respiratory symptoms worsened. The facility also did not report the resident's worsening condition to the physician in charge, the state found. The failure to follow existing policies resulted in the resident's death, the state concluded.
DHS spokesperson Norma Arceo said the facility will not lose its license to care for residents, and the facility has 30 days to notify the state if it plans to appeal the decision.
Julie Davidson, one of the owners of the long-term care company, said that her family will file an appeal and that she believes they will be able to prove the neglect did not occur.
No criminal charges have been filed in the case (Reiter, Merced Sun-Star, 9/24).