According to recent news reports, employees of Montefiore nursing home in Beachwood, Ohio may have intentionally submitted false COVID tests (when in fact they should have been positive, if done correctly) leading to an outbreak of, at least, 34 cases of COVID-19, some of those cases leading to patient deaths. In other words, leadership claimed that patients/residents had false COVID tests, when, in fact, they should have been positive, leading to an all-out COVID outbreak at one unit in the facility since precautions to stop the spread were not taken. Tittle & Perlmuter is now investigating these cases of nursing home neglect/reckless conduct by the leadership of a nursing home right in our backyard of the greater Cleveland, Ohio area.
Details of the Montefiore Case
In mid-October, several residents of the Montefiore nursing home began to exhibit signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Tests were initially ran, which were negative. Later, a second batch of testing showed positive results. It was then discovered that the first round of “negatives” were intentionally submitted as false tests, when, in fact, they should have been positive.
According to Jim Newbrough, president and CEO of Menorah Park, which is the parent organization of Montefiore, the organization terminated its administrator, nursing director, and assistant nursing director due to this intentional conduct after 34 cases of COVID-19 at Montefiore in Beachwood were mishandled in October.
Now, the Ohio Department of Health is investigating these claims/accusations. According to an internal memo, during the investigation, a member of the nursing staff raised concerns about the procedures used to conduct the test and whether the results were reported accurately. But, the ODH’s investigation will now lead to justice for the individual families – a nursing home neglect lawyer must be hired if the family wants individual claims investigated. That is where our experienced Cleveland nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys will fight for you.
Montefiore’s Response to The Issue
CEO Newbrough wrote a memorandum on Oct. 29 to residents and their families regarding the circumstances leading up to the terminations. He highlighted the known parts of the debacle, reiterating how tests conducted were mishandled.
Based on the false results submitted, resources from throughout the county and the state were called in to help get the widespread COVID outbreak on Montefiore’s campus under control. However, at least, 34 confirmed cases of COVID occurred before this occurred.
Our Goal as A Law Firm
We understand that this is a trying time for everyone – we are in the midst of a pandemic. But families deserve honesty, especially when they are restricted from seeing their loved ones in nursing homes. When a nursing home intentionally falsifies tests that would prevent common sense, preventive measures from taking place, something must be done – this is reckless conduct. That is where the experienced Cleveland nursing home neglect attorneys of Tittle & Perlmuter come in.
Tittle & Perlmuter is committed to investigating any wrongful death claims that may have come from the Montefiore nursing home relating to this COVID outbreak. If you have a loved one that has passed away from Montefiore’s reckless conduct, please give us a call for a free consultation.