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Coronavirus Pandemic Creates Florida Nursing Home Crisis

05/6/2020
Medical Malpractice
BY

Those most at risk

As the coronavirus crisis continues, concerns grow for vulnerable people within our communities—especially nursing home residents. According to a recent USA Today article, over 16,000 nursing home residents and staff in the United States have died due to complications from coronavirus. “More needs to be done. The number of deaths is appalling,” said Rhonda Richards, senior legislative representative at AARP. “We can’t overstate the gravity of this situation.” Yet, even with the lives of so many elderly people hanging in the balance, there is still a dire shortage of personal protective equipment within many nursing homes. Equally as troubling, residents and staff frequently do not have access to testing.

Florida has 424 nursing home and assisted living facilities throughout the state. Statewide, 475 people have died in nursing homes and long-term care facilities including 56 in Palm Beach County, according to the latest state COVID-19 statistics released yesterday.  South Florida, which has been the epicenter of coronavirus illnesses within the state, accounted for nearly half of all deaths at elder-care facilities. Broward County has already reported 60 deaths and Miami-Dade tops the list with 107 deaths.

On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis released a list identifying the names of the elder-care facilities that have had confirmed COVID-19 related resident and staff deaths. The release came after outcry from the families of long-term care residents who have been isolated in these facilities for over a month.

In Palm Beach County, the three facilities with the highest reported death tolls are ManorCare Health Services in Boynton Beach, Medicana Nursing Home and Rehab Center and Boulevard Rehabilitation of Boynton Beach. Six residents at ManorCare Health Services in Boynton Beach have died while the other facilities have each reported five fatalities.

According to the Miami Herald, Boulevard Rehabilitation of Boynton Beach has been on the state’s “Watch List” three times in 2018 and 2019 and been disciplined by the Agency of Health Care Administration 12 times since 2008, including four fines totaling $22,250. Florida’s “Watch List” of nursing homes identify elder-care facilities that failed to meet “minimum standards” at the time of inspection.

Following are the 50 most troubled facilities:

Facility name County Type Verified Deaths Resident Staff Under Investigation
Braden River Rehabilitation Center LLC Manatee NH 14 13 1 0
Seminole Pavilion Rehabilitation & Nursing Services Pinellas NH 14 13 1 0
Suwannee Health and Rehabilitation Center Suwannee NH 14 13 1 0
Highlands Lake Center Polk NH 12 12 0 0
Coquina Center Volusia NH 9 9 0 0
Riviera Palms Rehabilitation Center Manatee NH 9 9 0 0
The Broadmoor ALF St. Lucie ALF 9 9 0 0
Brookdale Deer Creek Sarasota Sarasota ALF 8 8 0 0
Fountain Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center Miami-Dade NH 8 7 0 1
Miami Jewish Health Systems, Inc. Miami-Dade NH 8 8 0 0
Atria Willow Wood Broward ALF 7 3 1 3
Court at Palm Aire, The Broward NH 7 6 1 0
Signature Healthcare Center of Waterford Miami-Dade NH 7 6 0 0
Unity Health and Rehabilitation Center Miami-Dade NH 7 7 0 0
Camellia at Deerwood Duval ALF 6 2 0 4
Floridean Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, The Miami-Dade NH 6 5 0 1
Manorcare Health Services – Boynton Beach Palm Beach NH 6 5 0 1
Sarasota Point Rehabilitation Center Sarasota NH 6 6 0 0
Boulevard Rehabilitation Center Palm Beach NH 5 5 0 0
Claridge House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Miami-Dade NH 5 5 0 0
Harborchase of Vero Beach Indian River ALF 5 5 0 0
Manorcare Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Collier NH 5 5 0 0
Medicana Nursing and Rehab Center Palm Beach NH 5 5 0 0
St. Mark Village Pinellas NH 5 5 0 0
Alexander  Broward NH 4 4 0 0
Arbor Oaks at Greenacres Palm Beach ALF 4 4 0 0
Brookdale Pensacola Escambia ALF 4 4 0 0
Fair Havens Center Miami-Dade NH 4 3 0 1
Harborchase of Tamarac Broward ALF 4 4 0 0
Miami Shores Nursing and Rehab Center Miami-Dade NH 4 3 0 1
North Beach Rehabilitation Center Miami-Dade NH 4 4 0 0
North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Miami-Dade NH 4 3 0 1
Palm Garden of Aventura Miami-Dade NH 4 2 1 1
Parklands Care Center Alachua NH 4 4 0 0
Presidential Place Broward ALF 4 4 0 0
Southern Oaks Care Center Escambia NH 4 3 1 0
Casa Mora Rehabilitation and Extended Care Manatee NH 3 3 0 0
Five Star Premier Residences of Hollywood Broward ALF 3 1 2 0
Fort Walton Rehabilitation Center, LLC Okaloosa NH 3 3 0 0
Fountainview Palm Beach ALF 3 2 0 1
Golden Glades Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Miami-Dade NH 3 3 0 0
Hamlin Place of Boynton Beach Palm Beach NH 3 3 0 0
Harbour Health Center Charlotte NH 3 3 0 0
Healthpark Care Center Lee NH 3 3 0 0
Heartland Health Care Center – Orange Park Clay NH 3 3 0 0
Jackson Memorial Long Term Care Center Miami-Dade NH 3 3 0 0
Life Care Center of Estero Lee NH 3 3 0 0
Manor Pines Convalescent Center Broward NH 3 3 0 0
Palm Garden of West Palm Beach Palm Beach NH 3 3 0 0

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