In December 2022, a Lee’s Summit woman took legal action against University Health, previously known as Truman Medical Center. She claimed that her husband’s death was caused by a preventable injury that occurred during his stay at the nursing facility.
Sara Jones recently filed a lawsuit in Jackson County Court, claiming that the hospital staff failed to provide proper care for her husband’s developing ulcer during his extended admission in 2022.
The lawsuit also takes a wider look at hospital procedures, claiming that cost-cutting measures implemented at University Health resulted in understaffing during shifts when nurses should have been caring for Jones’ husband.
Dan Jones, a patient with dementia and Parkinson’s Disease, was admitted to University Health in June 2022. Throughout his stay, he remained bedridden and unfortunately developed a sore on his tailbone sometime between June and August, as stated in the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, medical records indicate that the sore progressed into a stage four pressure ulcer by October. This represents the most severe form of ulcer, as the injury has penetrated the muscle. Additionally, the lawsuit states that by October 2022, Dan Jones’ wound was unresponsive to three different types of antibiotics.
According to the lawsuit, Dan Jones, who was bedridden, was at risk of sustaining further injury due to pressure on his wound. However, the nursing staff at University Health allegedly failed to assess Jones’ risk of pressure injuries and did not provide adequate care for his ulcer.
He passed away on December 19, 2022.
Sara Jones has filed a lawsuit claiming that her husband should have been turned and repositioned every two hours by the nurses, and provided with a specialized bed to relieve pressure. The lawsuit also mentions Sara’s desire for the nurses at University Health to have a better understanding of infection control, although it does not specify the specific procedural knowledge that was lacking in Dan Jones’ care.
According to the lawsuit, the University Health Facility failed to employ a sufficient number of staff members on a daily basis. As a result, the residents’ needs were not adequately met, necessary interventions to prevent avoidable pressure injuries were not carried out, and the residents’ conditions were not effectively monitored and supervised.
Sara Jones contends that hospital administrators should bear some responsibility for her husband’s demise due to their failure to identify potential gaps in his care plan. The lawsuit asserts that Truman breached its duty by admitting Jones, as it should have refrained from admitting patients that it was incapable of adequately caring for or treating.
The lawsuit states that during Dan Jones’ residency at the Facility, the appropriate policies and procedures for assessing, preventing, using interventions, monitoring, and reporting pressure injuries were never implemented by the Facility management.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, complications related to pressure ulcers claim the lives of over 60,000 individuals annually in the United States.
Sara Jones’s attorneys could not be reached for immediate comment.
University Health has not yet received the lawsuit, according to a representative. The hospital system does not provide comments on ongoing legal cases.
According to Keith King, the spokesperson for University Health, the organization has always prioritized delivering excellent healthcare services to its patients. He emphasized that University Health takes any concerns or issues raised by patients or their family members very seriously.
Sara Jones and her attorneys are requesting a jury trial. Her next court appearance is scheduled for April 16, 2025, where a case management conference will take place.
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