Three Fayette County nurses have fired a wrongful termination suit against Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services, a provider that operates 354 nursing homes and 18 assisted living facilities in the U.S. The suit also names RN Jean Lavender, the director of nursing services in one of Beverly's West Virginia homes, as a defendant. LPNs Hubert Atkins and Michelle Gill and RN Pamela Givens claim that patient care records were falsified and that patients received grossly substandard care. Lavender allegedly dismissed the problems when they were brought to her attention. All three nurses were eventually fired and Lavender went so far as to attempt to have Gill's license revoked. The suit states, "Defendants' actions were so outrageous in character and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community."
Yesterday, FierceHealthcare reported on a study that found that third of nursing home hospitalizations could be avoided if nursing home doctors were on hand to prevent illnesses from escalating. The situation at Beverly Health only underscores how important it is for doctors, nurses and other staff to ensure patients are receiving the level of care they deserve--without fear of reprisal.
- take a look at The West Virginia Record article for more