Uptown Rehabilitation Center

Uptown Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque, NM, is a nursing home providing long-term care, respite care, and short-term rehabilitation services for those who need professional treatment. However, its history of poor health outcomes for patients, as well as serious allegations of abuse, put everyone admitted to this facility at risk.

If you or your family member has been mistreated in a nursing home, it’s crucial to refer the case to the proper authorities as soon as possible, as this will help prevent further abuse. Contact one of our New Mexico nursing home abuse attorneys for a free consultation about your legal rights; our helpful and dedicated lawyers will help you develop a strong case against the parties responsible. 

Quick Overview

• Facility Name: Uptown Rehabilitation Center
• Address: 7900 Constitution Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110
• CMS Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
• CMS Health Inspection Rating: 2 out of 5 stars 
• CMS Staffing Rating: 3 out of 5 stars 
• CMS Quality Measures Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 
• Federal Fines in Last 3 Years: 1 fine totaling $52,946
• Payment Denials by Medicare in the Last 3 Years: 1 denial
• Total Bed Capacity: 134 beds
• Ownership Type: For-Profit LLC [1]

Facility Overview

Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this nursing home is a VA-contracted facility that will accept Medicare and Medicaid. It is a large operation with 134 beds that offers a range of services, including rehab and 24-hour, long-term care for individuals who cannot be cared for at home.

It’s important to note that Uptown Rehabilitation Center is not associated with a hospital or retirement community. It is a for-profit LLC and part of the Genesis Healthcare brand, which operates nursing homes and rehab centers nationwide. 

CMS Ratings and Performance

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides ratings to all facilities that accept government benefits in order to ensure that consumers can make informed decisions about their care. This system is based off a 5-star ranking, which is composed of three subsections: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.

Uptown Rehabilitation Center has a 2-star overall rating, which is below average. It has performed poorly on health inspections, receiving just 2 out of 5 stars. [1]

Staffing received 3 out of 5 stars. The nursing home has higher staff turnover than average, and while its registered nurses spend more time with residents than average, its overall staff hours per resident are lower than average. [1]

For quality measures, the nursing home has 4 out of 5 stars. The facility has received 1 federal fine totaling $52,946 in the past three years and 1 Medicare denial. [1]

Services Provided

Uptown Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque, NM, offers a broad range of both long-term and short-term care services, including 24-hour skilled nursing. The nursing home boasts that it offers a range of recreational activities and access to a common room, where a patient can visit with friends and family.

Assistance available includes:

• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Physical therapy
• Wound care
• Vision services
• Podiatry
• Pain management
• Dietary and nutritional management
• Audiology
• Hospice, respite, and palliative care

There have been significant concerns about the facility’s ability to provide case management, including developing individual treatment plans, as evidenced by its list of deficiencies. 

Additionally, consumers have complained that the facility failed to ensure the cleanliness of every room, that the food was unpalatable, and that the staff were not friendly to their family members. 

Violations and Citations

Reviewing the violations and citations against Uptown Rehabilitation Center can provide consumers with vital information necessary to protect their loved ones. 

Specific Violations

Since 2021, this nursing home has been accused of 67 deficiencies, including 5 infection-related deficiencies, which have raised concern about their ability to offer appropriate care to every resident. 

The alleged violations of Uptown Rehabilitation Center include the following.

Resident Rights: This nursing home has been cited for failing to provide a clean, homelike, and secure environment for patients, including adequate assistance for daily living. It was also cited for failing to explain the appeal process if their insurance was denied or they had complaints.

Lack of Training: Nurse aides were not provided with ongoing training to ensure they provided suitable patient care.

Unsafe Environment: The nursing home did not prevent fall risks and accident hazards, which could have led to a resident suffering a serious accident.

Poor Food: An inspection found that food was not served at a safe, appetizing temperature, and more than one resident complained that their food was tasteless and cold.

Medication Errors: Residents were denied access to needed medications to control their conditions. This could lead them to develop complications.

Abuse: Resident-on-resident violence has occurred, demonstrating that the staff are not able to manage the behaviors of aggressive residents before they cause physical fights.

Infection Control: The nursing home did not do enough to protect residents from COVID-19, an illness that can cause severe complications for immunocompromised individuals.

Adequate Interventions: The nursing home failed to intervene when residents showed a decline in health status, even when the children or family members of residents voiced their concern.

Impact on Residents

This nursing home’s failure to provide adequate care to its patients has harmed the safety, well-being, and security of those under its supervision. The large list of alleged violations demonstrates a long-standing disregard of professional standards. 

Health and Safety Concerns

Poor sanitation puts a resident at risk of contracting illnesses, especially if they have comorbid conditions. When food is not served in a safe, appetizing way, a resident may refuse to eat, which can cause malnutrition and further health complications. 

Staff has failed to administer medications according to appropriate protocols or update care plans when necessary to ensure that every resident receives the treatment they need. This can cause them to be admitted to the emergency room, putting them at risk of hospital-acquired infections.

Most concerningly, the nursing home did not follow infectious disease protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have killed patients.

Emotional and Psychological Impact

Resident-on-resident abuse has occurred at this nursing home, which leads to fear and anxiety. Patients may be afraid to speak out due to repercussions, causing distress and depression, as they feel powerless. 

Case Examples

A February 2024 review found that one resident lost 44 pounds in just 30 days, over 20% of their body weight. This dramatic weight loss could have resulted in malnutrition and other health complications.

The same review found that nurses entered a COVID-19-positive resident’s room without personal protective equipment, potentially putting others at risk of infection. It also noted that broken equipment and a broken-down van were present on the premises, which could have led to patients being injured if they tripped over or cut themselves on the equipment.

In June 2023, a resident with quadriplegia and contractures in multiple limbs complained that she had been out of an essential medication that helps reduce muscle spasms. Far from simply being annoying, muscle spasms can cause significant pain and severely limit a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks. None of the staff informed the resident’s physician that she was out of medication.

In November 2022, a resident was acting aggressively toward their roommate and other patients in the nursing home as a complication of schizophrenia. This led to a physical fight between the two in their room, causing a head laceration. Though staff had noted the behavior and attempted to intervene previously, they did not provide adequate supervision, nor did they update the care plan for the safety of the roommate. 

This same investigation found that a resident was not assisted with activities of daily living, including hygiene tasks. Additionally, one resident suffered a fractured arm because proper lift procedures were not followed, causing a fall. 

During an August 2022 inspection, the daughter of a resident voiced concern about their loved one’s lack of appetite and refusal to eat. Nursing home staff did not intervene despite noting the lack of appetite. This resident later suffered from an unwitnessed fall but did not have a neurological evaluation to identify if he suffered a concussion.

Legal Rights and Actions

According to the state of New Mexico, all nursing home residents have certain rights, including the right to a safe and homelike environment that is free from neglect or abuse. Facilities that violate these rights, like Uptown Rehabilitation Center, can be be pursued by state and federal governments, including facing fines and removal of their participation in government programs. 

If you suspect abuse at any nursing home, you should contact the local long-term care ombudsman to discuss your allegations. Additionally, you can file a lawsuit to receive monetary compensation.

Our experienced nursing home abuse lawyers at Nursing Home Law Center will assist you with all aspects of your case. This includes gathering evidence, substantiating your claims, and negotiating with the nursing home or rehab facility to receive compensation.

Call us today for a free consultation with an experienced attorney. 

[1] Medicare