by Colin G. Meeker, Attorney at Law
email: [email protected] :: 
office: 330.253.3337 :: 
mobile: 330.603.7173
On April 16, 2020, state officials provided data which showed that more than 10% of all COVID-19 cases in Ohio are in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Nursing homes in Wayne County represent 73% of the county’s cases alone. Although COVID-19 has been infecting Americans since at least January 2020, according to Summit County Health Commissioner Donna Skoda, some nursing home residents are still mingling with each other and leaving the facility. Skoda made the claim that her agency and the state do not have authority to place rules on nursing homes. However, in early March, Ohio Governer Mike DeWine and health director Dr. Amy Acton banned visitors from nursing homes.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone battling COVID-19 during this tragic time.
Nursing Home Liability
COVID-19 began infecting Americans in January 2020. A nursing home should not wait for the state or federal government to provide orders for the safety of its residents. Every Ohio nursing home must provide an ongoing quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) program to address all systems of care and management practices. The QAPI team must meet regularly to:
- Monitor and evaluate the quality of care and quality of life provided at the nursing home;
- Track, investigate, and monitor incidents, accidents, and events that have occurred in the home;
- Track and monitor the effectiveness of the infection control program;
- Identify problems and trends; and
- Develop and implement appropriate action plans to correct identified problems.
A proper QAPI program can save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic because proactive and innovative safety techniques and defense strategies can be applied to prevent the virus from infiltrating the nursing home, or stop it if it does infect a patient. If your loved one has passed away due to Coronavirus while at a nursing home, and if the home could have done more to protect your loved one, you should always speak with a COVID-19 attorney in your time of need.
The COVID-19 attorneys at Blakemore, Meeker & Bowler Co., L.P.A. are counseling families now who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19 while at nursing homes. We are experienced in litigating wrongful death and personal injury cases and will be your rock in these tough time in order to compensate you for your loss. Please contact Attorney Colin G. Meeker at (330) 603-7173 for help understanding your legal options.
Note: We have constructed this post using outside sources, including news bulletins and first-hand accounts from outside sources. The details concerning this accident have not been independently verified and so, if you have identified false information, please inform us immediately. We will adjust the post to reflect accurate content.
Disclaimer: At Blakemore, Meeker & Bowler Co., L.P.A., we are always looking to improve the quality and safety of our state and have been saddened by the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic across Ohio. We hope to inform those in our community about the outbreak in the hopes that those who are responsible for taking care of our elders will work to avoid unnecessary loss of life in the future. These posts are not to be taken as a solicitation for business. The information within should never be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. We hope that all involved in the Coronavirus epidemic will receive a speedy recovery.
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