Recent Firm News

For Immediate Release

Contact: Maria deLange, FREIDIN · DOBRINSKY
(305) 371-3666

December 7, 2007

CONSUMER ALERT:

Three Florida Nursing Homes Ranked as Worst in the Country

MIAMI, Fla.- Three Florida Nursing homes have been identified as being among “the worst in the nation” by the government agency – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for serious deficiencies in facility safety and patient care. The homes were found to have serious deficiencies in facility safety and patient care. Two of the homes are here is our local area – Palms Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Lauderdale Lakes and Key West Convalescent Center in Key West.

Areas of violation included non-nutritious and unpalatable food, unsanitary conditions in the food storage and preparation areas, and for not providing sufficient nursing staff on a 24-hour basis. Note that these were not the first violations received by these facilities. Prior violations included issues with poor sanitation, residents' rights, healthcare, and safety issues.

CMS inspected approximately 670 nursing homes receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding. These inspections occur unannounced at least once every 15 months. The agency reviews rules and regulations governing the staff, facilities maintenance and patient care. Facilities that consistently score poorly are reviewed every about every six months. To be removed from the list, nursing home facilities must pass two consecutive inspections with no serious deficiencies and must have no inspections prompted by consumer complaints.

Attorney Phil Freidin of FREIDIN · DOBRINSKY has served on the Legislative Task Force on the Availability and Affordability of Long-Term Care of the Elderly and on the Governor's Task Force for Elderly Abuse Prevention. He states, “As a society, we should not tolerate mistreatment of the elderly in facilities that are designed to care for them. They are human beings who deserve respect and quality care, and when quality care is not given, the parties responsible should be held accountable.”

The law firm of FREIDIN · DOBRINSKY has handled nursing home cases for more than 25 years. Cases have involved insects embedded into bed sores, ulcers to the bone, fractures, fall injuries, death from malnutrition and dehydration, and physical abuse.

“Families need to thoroughly research and scrutinize any facility that they are considering for a parent or loved one, added FREIDIN · DOBRINSKY partner Manuel Dobrinsky. “Family members need to visit as often as they can, and check on the care that the elderly person is receiving.”

Unfortunately, abuse and negligence of the elderly in nursing homes is not uncommon. If you suspect neglect in a nursing home facility where your loved one is placed, please call us at 1-866-495-8060. We offer free consultations for all victims and their families.

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Philip Freidin and Manuel Dobrinsky are partners in the law firm of FREIDIN · DOBRINSKY. The firm was founded in 1979, and is headquartered in Miami, Florida, at 2 South Biscayne Boulevard. Mr. Freidin and Mr. Dobrinsky can be contacted at (305) 371-3666. Additional information about FREIDIN · DOBRINSKY may be obtained from the firm's website, www.freidindobrinsky.com.