Albuquerque Heights Violations & Ratings

Nursing homes nationwide care for elderly residents to improve their quality of life and meet their healthcare needs. 

The nursing staff and administrators who provide these services must meet professional standards to protect residents from injuries, infections, and other safety concerns. Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of nursing home abuse and neglect that harms many older adults in these communities.

Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center is a nursing home with an imperfect record of high-quality living assistance and medical services. If you or a loved one have suffered at this facility in New Mexico, the Nursing Home Law Center can help you pursue legal action to obtain financial compensation.

Facility Overview

This nursing home is a skilled nursing facility that offers post-acute, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and respite care services. It is located at 103 Hospital Loop NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, and has 134 certified beds.

Other specialties include memory support, palliative care, orthopedic rehabilitation, social activities, psychiatric services, and total parenteral nutrition. This institution’s legal business name is Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, LLC.

Ownership and Affiliations

Albuquerque Heights is owned and managed by Genesis Healthcare, a larger parent company. This for-profit corporation owns or operates roughly 290 skilled nursing facilities across 25 states and oversees 34,000 beds.

Ratings and Performance

Multiple reporting entities say this nursing home has a less-than-stellar service record. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rates many nursing homes nationwide on a five-star scale. Each nursing home receives an overall score based on individual scores in staffing, health inspections, and quality measures.

By this metric, Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center has an overall score of two stars, considered below average. In the individual categories, the nursing home received two stars for staffing, four stars for health inspections, and four stars for quality measures (considered above average) [1].

US News also rates nursing homes in the United States, and this facility has received an overall rating of three out of five from this entity. It is considered average for both long-term and short-term care[2].

Complaints and Legal Actions Against Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

This nursing home has had various complaints or legal actions filed against it. Numerous incidents have occurred where residents were put in harm’s way due to the nurses’ negligence or the administration’s improper protocols. As a result, the nursing home has been the recipient of both lawsuits and penalties from the CMS.

Wrongful Death Due to Negligence From Staff

This case involves a wrongful death lawsuit for a victim by the name of Adam Lobato. The man received a double amputation of his feet. The lawsuit alleges that shortly after the amputation, the nursing home staff were negligent in caring for Lobato, resulting in a bad fall, which eventually led to his death. 

During this lawsuit, the defendant attempted to enforce an arbitration agreement that would allow the case to be resolved by an arbitrator. However, the plaintiffs argued that Lobato signed the deal in such a medicated state that the contract could not be enforceable. The motion to dismiss the arbitration agreement was granted [3].

Federal Fines Against the Nursing Home

When nursing homes do not meet professional standards of care, CMS can punish them for these shortcomings. This typically involves either federal fines or Medicare payment denials. In the past three years, this nursing home has paid CMS three penalties for violations totaling $26,000 [1].

Any number of penalties against a nursing home should be concerning for a potential resident and their family.

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

State or federal agencies inspect all nursing facilities. These inspections may occur regularly or be initiated in response to complaints. A nursing home that ignores the details could receive citations, fines, and even license revocations. This center has had mixed results from inspections in recent years. As a result of these failures, residents have had their rights violated or lives put in danger. 

Here are some deficiencies found in recent inspections.

• The most recent health inspection resulted in 26 citations against the institution, while the national average is 9.6 citations.
• The licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse hours per resident per day was only 36 minutes, while the national average was 53 minutes.
• About 24.7% of short-stay nursing home residents were re-hospitalized after their admissions, compared to 21.6% in New Mexico.
• Only 67.7% of short-stay residents improved their limited ability to move independently, compared to 76.8% nationally.
• The rate of hospitalizations per 1,000 long-stay resident days was 2.23, compared to 1.48 statewide.
• 11.1% of high-risk, long-stay residents experienced pressure ulcers, compared to 7.8% nationally.
• Only 8.4% of residents were up to date on their vaccinations, compared to 23.7% nationally [1].
• The nursing staff failed to honor the resident’s right to self-determination, dignity, and communication.
• The facility failed to provide for each resident’s needs and preferences.
• The staff failed to provide every resident a clean, safe, and comfortable home environment.
• The staff failed to develop comprehensive care plans for each resident within seven days of admission.
• The nursing home failed to provide activities to meet all resident needs.
• The nursing home failed to observe each nurse aide’s duties and provide regular training.
• The nursing facility failed to provide food from safe sources and serve it per professional standards.
• The institution failed to provide enough personnel to effectively carry out food and nutrition services.
• The nursing home failed to provide dialysis for a resident who needed it.
• The facility failed to enforce a pest control program to prevent and deal with mice, insects, and other pests [2].

As you can see, the number of recent violations and shortcomings is staggering, so evaluating the team at this facility is essential if you or a loved one plan to stay at Albuquerque Heights.

How a Nursing Facility Abuse Lawyer Can Help With Your Lawsuit

As demonstrated by the number of violations, complaints, and penalties in this facility’s past, the staff has proven unable to meet the needs of all residents. If you or a family member have suffered from abuse or neglect at this institution, you could pursue legal action to hold the at-fault party accountable and be compensated for legal damages. 

Working with an experienced New Mexico nursing home abuse attorney will increase your chances of winning a fair settlement.

What to Do if Your Loved One is a Victim

In many nursing home abuse or neglect cases, visiting family members are the first ones to take action against the facilities. First, it is important to know the signs of elder abuse in a nursing home. 

Unexplained injuries, broken bones, bruises, pressure ulcers, irritability, fearfulness, behavioral changes, withdrawal, or loss of interest in hobbies could all indicate your loved one is suffering from abuse or neglect. It is essential to report suspected abuse to the proper authorities while consulting a nursing home legal team for help.

The Importance of Acting Quickly

Responding to potential abuse or neglect quickly is crucial. If you wait to take legal action or report your suspicions, your loved one could face more tremendous suffering. Also, you don’t want your case dismissed due to the statute of limitations in your state. Lastly, if you wait too long to file a lawsuit against the nursing home, gathering substantial evidence to support your claim will be more challenging.

Contingency Fee Agreement and Free Consultation

You can access numerous advantages when working with the Nursing Home Law Center. 

First, our attorneys work on a contingency fee agreement. Rather than paying hefty attorney fees for our services, we will start working for you immediately. We only receive payment from the settlement if we win your case. 

Additionally, we want you to make an informed decision when hiring legal counsel. As such, we offer a free legal consultation so you can ask questions about your case and the legal process.

If you or a family member have suffered from nursing home abuse or neglect at Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, call us today at 800-926-7565 or complete the online form to request your free consultation with an experienced nursing home negligence and abuse attorney.

Resources: [1] CMS – Albuquerque Heights, [2] US News – Albuquerque Heights, [3] Gauthier & Meier – Court of Appeals Dismisses Arbitration,