Elder Abuse and Neglect will not be Tolerated by the Department of Health and Human Services

Angie SzumlinskiNews

PUBLIC ALERT ON PATIENT ABUSE IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES NATIONWIDE
(Washington D.C., Monday, August 28, 2017) – The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is issuing an alert ahead of its report on quality of care concerns in skilled nursing facilities nationwide. Due to the importance and urgency of the preliminary findings, OIG is alerting citizens of potential cases of patient neglect and abuse in these facilities, many of which are temporary residences for our nation’s most vulnerable people.

Curtis Roy, Assistant Regional Inspector General with HHS OIG:

SOUNDBITE #1:
DURING OUR REVIEW OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES ACROSS THE NATION, WE FOUND 134 INSTANCES OF POTENTIAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN 33 STATES. THESE POTENTIAL CASES INVOLVE FAILURE TO PROVIDE NECESSARY MEDICAL CARE TO PATIENTS, AND EVEN OCCURRENCES OF PHYSICAL ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.

SOUNDBITE #2:
THESE TYPES OF ABUSES AND NEGLECT CANNOT BE TOLERATED. HHS OIG WILL CONTINUE REPORTING ON THE QUALITY OF CARE IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AND OTHER MEDICAL FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE CARE TO MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PATIENTS. WE ARE ALSO URGING CITIZENS TO BE VIGILANT; VISIT YOUR LOVED ONES OFTEN WHO ARE IN THESE FACILITIES, ASK THEM IF THEY ARE BEING TREATED PROPERLY, AND REPORT POTENTIAL CASES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT TO YOUR LOCAL POLICE AND YOUR STATE’S MEDICAID FRAUD CONTROL UNIT.

For more information on HHS OIG, visit oig.hhs.gov.