CNA tried to cover up fatal patient drop at Massachusetts nursing home

Gabrielle Masson -

A certified nursing assistant at Worcester, Mass.-based Lutheran Rehabilitation and Skilled Care tried to cover up a patient death caused by a fall from a mechanical lift, according to a report from the Department of Public Health cited by Boston 25 News

The nursing home resident was dropped from a mechanical lift while being moved from bed in September. The resident suffered two left rib fractures, a spinal fracture, cervical spinal fractures, a subdural hematoma and a pneumothorax. The patient died at the hospital the next day.

According to the DPH report, the responsible CNA told co-workers and emergency staff that the resident's head was bumped on a metal bar. The resident was unable to speak, and the hospital was not informed about the drop for several hours.

The nursing home cooperated with the DPH during its investigation, Ziad Baroody, the nursing home administrator, told Boston 25 News in October. However, Mr. Baroody said Nov. 14 that the facility is appealing the DPH's findings.

One month after the death, the DPH conducted a second, unannounced inspection and determined in mid-October that the nursing home had corrected the problems initially found. 

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