BELLEVILLE — A Madison County nursing and rehab facility is facing a suit after one of its employees dropped a patient during transfer from her wheelchair to her bed.
Virginia Buklad filed a complaint Aug. 17 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Meridian Village Association, alleging negligence and violation of the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act.
According to Buklad's complaint, she was transferred to Meridian Village's facility for inpatient rehab on April 24 due to a leg amputation. She alleges that "hours" after arriving at the facility, the defendant's employee dropped her on the floor while attempting to transfer her from a wheelchair to her bed. Buklad claims she suffered a fractured right femur, which resulted in pain and disfigurement and caused her to incur "a large amount" of medical expenses.
Buklad alleges the defendant were negligent for their employee's improper lifting and claims the defendant knew or should have known she needed more than one staff member to assist in her transfer. Buklad also claims the defendant failed to perform a proper physical assessment for her transfer, failed to follow physician's notes and failed to have a care plan for fall risk and prevention.
Buklad seeks monetary and all other just relief. She is represented by Eric Kirkpatrick of The Kirkpatrick Law Offices PC in Belleville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000991