January 11, 2006
Oakwood Receives 12th Abuse Citation in 12 Months
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express (subscribe)
SOMERSET, KY--In October, 2005, a man housed at Communities of Oakwood crushed his toe under a heavy chest and had to have it amputated.
State health inspectors cited Oakwood, which is Kentucky's largest state-run institution housing about 300 people with developmental disabilities, for failing to adequately supervise the resident.
Last week, the facility was again cited, this time over second-degree burns the same man received on his stomach and chest from pouring scalding coffee down the front of himself.
The man's injuries were not reported until two days after the incident, according to WKYT-TV.
An official with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services told the Louisville Courier-Journal that the state is investigating to determine why the coffee was so hot, why the man was not closely monitored, and why the worker assigned to the man did not know that he was supposed to have his coffee diluted with cold water.
It was the 12th "Type A" citation -- the most serious kind a facility can receive -- for the year 2005. Most of the other citations related to abuse and neglect of residents. Two concerned deaths of residents.
That series of citations prompted federal officials to threaten to cut off Medicaid funds in September, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services agreed to delay the move while the state appeals the decision and tries to correct problems.
Earlier last month, four Communities at Oakwood employees were arrested and charged with wanton neglect related to the deaths.
The institution has been run by a private out-of-state company for the last two months.
On Tuesday, state officials told the Courier-Journal that the federal government has agreed to provide funding for 100 Oakwood residents to move into homes in the community.
Related:
"Oakwood is cited as resident is injured" (Courier-Journal)
"Another Citation Has Been Issued To Oakwood" (WKYT)
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Posted on January 11, 2006