Introduction to Signature HealthCARE Nursing Homes

Signature HealthCARE is a parent company that oversees numerous skilled nursing facilities. The company currently operates 72 facilities in ten states. Founded in 2007, it is a family-based healthcare company that offers integrated services, skilled nursing, rehabilitative work, home health, cognitive care, telemedicine, and transfer services to and from hospitals or urgent care centers. 

The current headquarters is located in Louisville, Kentucky. Over 14,000 employees contribute to Signature HealthCARE’s services. While this healthcare company has earned the respect of the greater healthcare landscape, it has also overseen numerous violations and instances of negligence that have placed patients in danger. 

Quality Care Concerns

The Signature HealthCARE landscape has experienced a troubled past regarding violations and legal actions. Many of the facilities operated by this parent company have low ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

CMS provides ratings on a five-star scoring system to assess each facility’s effectiveness with health inspections, quality measures, and staffing. Unfortunately, one- and two-star ratings are common among institutions this primary care provider runs. 

If you or a loved one have experienced abuse or neglect while staying in a Signature HealthCARE facility, you have the right to pursue compensation for legal damages suffered. Contact the Nursing Home Law Center to learn more about a potential lawsuit. 

The best way to enact radical change in the healthcare industry is to hold institutions and parent companies responsible when they fail to provide sufficient patient care. 

Complaints and Legal Actions Against Signature HealthCARE

With 72 facilities operating under its umbrella, this healthcare entity has had its fair share of issues in the past. When facilities and nursing staff fail to uphold a professional standard of care, they can endanger patients’ lives.

Residents deserve the highest level of care from facility staff, but some legal actions have resulted from this company’s shortcomings. Since the beginning of 2022, there have been 26 reported nursing home violations at Signature HealthCARE facilities [1]. 

False Claims Act of 2018 Settlement

In 2018, two whistleblowers revealed that facilities under Signature HealthCARE’s ownership drastically inflated reports of rehabilitation services, resulting in unnecessary reimbursement payments to the facilities. The company was forced to pay $30 million to settle this violation of the False Claims Act, though the actual fraud was estimated to be worth over $200 million. 

Wrongful Death Case in Ohio

The largest nursing home settlement in Ohio’s history was the result of a wrongful death lawsuit. A male patient aspirated food into his lungs while eating, and nursing home staff did not contact emergency services for an extended period after the incident. He was sick and displaying symptoms. 

Eventually, the victim died when they drowned in their vomit. The total settlement value awarded to the victim’s family was $26 million [2]. 

COVID-19 Lawsuit Involving The Family-Based Healthcare Company

Four patients at Summit Manor were exposed to COVID-19 and suffered various consequences, including death. The families of these individuals sued the facility’s parent company, which is Signature HealthCARE. 

The lawsuit included accusations of negligence, misconduct, wrongful death, and breach of contract. At the time of the lawsuit, the facility in question had 96 positive cases and 17 deaths from COVID-19 [3].

Inspections and Deficiency Reports at Signature HealthCARE Facilities

The Signature HealthCARE landscape is also spotted with inspection violations and deficiencies. These nursing homes, urgent care centers, and other clinics have displayed numerous violations over the years, resulting in the parent company receiving many citations from state and federal entities. Here are some of the recent issues discovered through official inspections.

Oakview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Kentucky

Recent violations were cited against this facility in Calvert City. The primary issue was a failure to provide appropriate treatment and care according to the resident’s preferences and doctors’ orders. This facility also failed to create comprehensive treatment plans that met the specific needs of all patients. 

Signature Healthcare of Coshocton

This Ohio-based nursing home failed to protect each resident from physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Additionally, patients were exposed to physical punishment. 

Signature Healthcare of Erin

In Tennessee, this nursing facility has experienced numerous violations discovered through inspections and complaints. 

First, they failed to ensure residents were free from medication errors. Second, the facility team failed to provide pharmaceutical services to all residents to ensure they received the quality care they needed. Another problem with this nursing home was the failure to protect residents from the wrongful use of their possessions and belongings [4]. 

Liberty Care and Rehabilitation Center in Kentucky

This nursing home, which is owned by Signature HealthCARE, has experienced numerous problems in recent years. 

Inspections have revealed many violations within their programs, including the failure to report abuse, the failure to develop and implement care plans, and the failure to protect residents from all types of abuse. There are also administrative violations that have prevented the staff from operating the facility efficiently and using its resources for adequate care. 

What Can Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Do?

Although Signature HealthCARE is often considered a great company with a strong track record of quality care, many families have suffered due to negligence from facility staff under the company’s umbrella. 

Filing a lawsuit against the facility or parent company can lead to radical change in a victim’s financial outlook. Working with an attorney from the Nursing Home Law Center will increase your chances of earning compensation for legal damages suffered after abuse or neglect. 

Why Contact a Lawyer?

Patients in nursing homes may struggle to advocate for themselves when they suffer wrongdoing, especially when they come up against the vast resources of a healthcare network. With an experienced lawyer on your side, the playing field will be leveled so you can earn compensation for legal damages, including medical bills, emotional distress, physical pain, and loss of enjoyment of life. 

The Signs of Abuse and Neglect

If your family member is a patient in a nursing home, you should be watchful for signs of abuse or neglect. Here are a few scenarios to focus on to protect your loved one. 

• Unexplained injuries like bruises or broken bones
• Development of pressure ulcers
• Changing behaviors
• No longer enjoying favored activities
• Fearfulness around certain staff members
• Missing belongings
• Sudden changes in bank accounts
• Worsening health condition

The Importance of Acting Quickly

If you want to hold a facility or Signature HealthCARE accountable for their negligent actions, you must act quickly to file a lawsuit. The sooner you act, the easier it will be to collect evidence that supports your claim with the help of a nursing home abuse attorney. Plus, this may be your only way to prevent future abuse and neglect from happening to your loved one or other residents. 

Free Consultation and Contingency Fee Agreement

Working with our team offers several advantages. We hope to transform lives by providing free consultations during which victims or their family members can ask questions and make informed decisions. 

Additionally, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means patients and families won’t pay anything upfront for our legal guidance, and we will only receive payment if we win your case. These two offerings make it easier for victims of nursing home abuse or neglect to consider legal action without sacrificing their finances. 

Contact the Nursing Home Law Center Today

A life can be destroyed entirely or ruined if abuse or neglect goes unpunished. Whether you plan to support a family member living in a nursing home or you have experienced abuse yourself, our team is ready to represent your interests and protect your rights. 

An experienced lawyer can make all the difference in a successful lawsuit, resulting in fair compensation for your suffering. Call our office today at 800-926-7565 or complete the online form for your free case review. 

Resources: [1] Violation Tracker – Parent Company Summary, [2] US DHS – Signature Healthcare Lawsuit, [3] The Adair Progress – Signature HealthCARE COVID-19 Lawsuit, [4] ProPublica – Deficiencies at Signature Healthcare,