According to a report obtained from the Indiana State Department of Health, the “Michiana Health and Rehabilitation Center”, located at 1420 East Douglas Road in Mishawaka, was investigated by state nursing home surveyors in April of 2015 and found to be in violation of multiple quality of care regulations.  The care deficiencies outlined in the 43 page report involve the failure to comply with regulations intended to ensure that patients receive proper care and protect nursing home patients from acts of neglect and abuse.  Among the findings by the investigators against the Mishawaka nursing home were the following:

• • the facility failed to ensure residents’ allegations of verbal abuse, physical abuse and misappropriation of property was reported immediately to the Administrator, thoroughly investigated and reported in a timely manner to appropriate state agencies;
• • the facility failed to follow their policy and procedure for investigating and reporting allegations of abuse for 7 of 7 allegations reviewed;
• • the facility failed to serve food in a sanitary manner in 1 of 1 kitchens and 2 of 2 dining rooms;
• • the facility failed to ensure the high temperature dishwasher was in maintained in safe operating condition;
• • the facility failed to ensure documentation of TB (tuberculin) testing and references were complete for I of 10 employee records reviewed;
• • the facility failed to ensure proper closet space was provided for 82 of 82 residents;
• • the facility failed to follow the physician’s order related to assessment and documentation for a hemodialysis fistula in 1 of 1 residents reviewed for hemodialysis; and,
• • the facility failed to develop and implement a care plan for the assessment and monitoring of a resident receiving dialysis for 1 of 1 residents assessed for dialysis.

According to records on file with the ISDH, the Michiana Health and Rehabilitation Center is owned by Dearborn County Hospital, located in Dearborn, Indiana.

Indiana’s nursing home industry has long held the dubious distinction of providing some of the worst nursing home care in the U.S. For example, in 2009, Indiana was found to have more poorly performing nursing homes than any other state, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report.

A series of recent incidents strongly suggest that things have not improved.  Recently, a former employee of the Waters of Scottsburg nursing home was charged with the felony of voyeurism involving a nursing home patient, for allegedly taking a naked photograph of a nursing home patient’s back, buttocks and legs and sharing the photograph with others on social media.

Earlier this year, indictments were filed by a grand jury filed against a former employee of a Lawrenceburg, Indiana nursing home in connection to the death of a patient of the nursing home. According to news reports, a witness in that case told detectives that the employee violently pulled the patient from a walker, breaking the patient’s vertebra and causing death.

In another instance, news outlets reported that the Greenfield and Indianapolis police departments were involved in the investigation of a massive identity theft ring with a Greenfield nursing home at the center of the investigation. According to the reports, there are more than 100 identities stolen and more than $100,000. Police, according to the reports, have indicated someone from inside the facility may be responsible. (see article: Police Investigating Massive Identity Theft Ring Centering Around Greenfield Nursing Home.

In yet another case, a former employee of a Jasper, Indiana nursing home was charged with sexual battery, battery with injury, and intimidation based upon allegations that the nursing home employee performed sexual acts with a patient, and then threatened the patient if he told anyone about it.

We are currently involved in an investigation of possible neglect involving the Michiana Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Our investigation into these matters is continuing.  If you have information related to substandard care provided by this facility, please contact us at 877-769-5377.  Together we can make a difference.

The Powless Law Firm is an Indiana law firm that represents victims and families state-wide in serious cases involving nursing home neglect, medical negligence, personal injury and wrongful death.