A Virginia Department of Health investigation has revealed that nursing and pharmacy staff at a Virginia nursing home provide subpar patient care. Among other infractions, the staff have been depriving patients of their medications. An investigation into the nursing home confirmed misconduct at the nursing home facility. One of the most significant violations found was that some patients went without administration of their HIV medications for more than three weeks.

If you're a nurse or pharmacist and you or your healthcare facility are under investigation, you need the assistance of the Lento Law Firm. Our Professional License Defense Team will work tirelessly to preserve your rights and license. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.

The Virginia Department of Health Investigation

Over nine months, the Virginia Department of Health received numerous complaints related to the Westport Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. One complaint that gained prime-time media attention was from Heather Tyler, whose husband is a resident at Westport.

In January 2024, Tyler filed a complaint citing generally poor conditions at the facility and potential nursing abuse. She claimed her husband was left to sit in urine for hours and had unexplained injuries on his body. She reached out to the media in September; only after airing her concerns on television did she get a response from the Virginia Department of Health.

Following the media coverage, the Virginia Department of Health finally opened an investigation and visited Westport. The agency claims it investigated Tyler and several other complaints during the same site visit.

Virginia Department of Health inspectors found that staff were guilty of various actions that constitute misconduct. In addition to failing to provide crucial HIV medication to patients for weeks, the facility made numerous care and administrative errors, including:

• Failure to meet food and nutritional standards for patients
• Failure to provide a summary of a care plan for residents
• Failure to provide residents with requested medical records following discharge
• Failure to accurately document medical records
• Failure to notify medical providers when patients' prescriptions expired

Consequences for Westport Staff Misconduct

Under the law, Westport is required to address the roughly dozen violations the Virginia Department of Health identified. To address the issues, Westport submitted a corrective action plan that includes regular internal audits and staff training. While residents like Tyler's husband will just have to wait and see if the correction plan comes to fruition, the facility's staff may not be out of the woods.

Both pharmacists and nurses played significant roles in Westport's violations. Any of the involved professionals could be viewed as participating in misconduct, violating relevant laws such as the Virginia Nurse Practice Act, and may be subject to disciplinary action by their professional boards.

Retain the Lento Law Firm Today

If you're a nurse, pharmacist, or healthcare professional in Virginia or anywhere else in the country, the Lento Law Firm can help. Our Professional License Defense Team will handle your case from start to finish. Get started with the Lento Law Firm today; call 888-535-3686 or contact us online.