CHAPEL HILL -- State regulators have recommended $20,000 in penalties against Britthaven of Chapel Hill nursing home, where a former nurse is accused of murder and patient abuse related to morphine overdoses.
The proposed fine is a recommendation from the state Department of Health and Human Services to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The $20,000 is the federal maximum that the centers can fine Britthaven for violations that investigators said occurred over two days in February.
The department's Nursing Home Licensure and Certification Section investigated Britthaven of Chapel Hill on Feb. 18, June 15-17, June 29-July 1 and July 27, according to a letter dated Tuesday to Linda Adkins, the home administrator. The state found evidence to support eight of 25 complaints against the nursing home.
According to the report, Britthaven failed to ensure that 14 of 29 patients in its Alzheimer's unit were free from abuse. The nursing home also failed to make sure the patients' drug regimens were free from unnecessary drugs, that patients were free of any significant medical errors and that residentsweren't given narcotics unless a physician authorized them.
All violations relate to the alleged actions in February of Angela Almore, a former registered nurse at the facility who has since been charged with second-degree murder and patient-abuse charges related to the death of 84-year-old Rachel Holliday and morphine-induced injuries to six other patients.
A medical examiner reported that Holliday died of pneumonia from asphyxiation and that the levels of morphine in her system likely contributed to her death. None of the patients had been prescribed morphine.
Britthaven released a statement Tuesday in response to the report.
"It is extremely disappointing to our staff and management that this individual allegedly chose to administer medications without a valid order in violation of the law, facility policies and our Code of Conduct. We hope that these criminal actions will not undo years of effort by the many conscientious employees who have followed all the rules and worked hard every day to give our residents the best care possible."
The Chapel Hill nursing home also faces civil malpractice suits after serious injuries to two other patients.
