EDWARDSVILLE - Multiple health care facilities are being sued after a nursing home patient developed sores and infections and later died.
Chris Vaughn, independent administrator of the estate of Kate Vaughn, deceased, filed a lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Godfrey Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, LLC doing business as Integrity Healthcare of Godfrey, and Alton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, LLC doing business as Integrity Healthcare of Alton, alleging wrongful death.
According to the lawsuit, Kate Vaughn was a resident and patient at Integrity of Godfrey from March 2019 through July 4, 2020, when she was transferred to Integrity Healthcare of Alton. She remained there until her discharge on Sept. 9, 2020. Vaughn was then transferred back to Integrity of Godfrey until Dec. 2, 2020, when she was discharged to Alton Memorial Hospital.
The plaintiff alleges that during Vaughn's stay at Integrity of Godfrey, employees knew, or should have known, about her high risk for developing pressure and other sore wounds because of medical conditions, treatment and history. The plaintiff claims Vaughn developed severe infections and sores, including ulcers, on her heels, sacrum and buttocks, causing her to undergo medical treatment at Alton Memorial Hospital until her death on Dec.17, 2020.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants were negligent in failing to adequately and timely notify the decedent's responsible party and physicians of changes in her condition; failing to provide adequate and timely assessment; failing to reduce or eliminate the risk for developing sores, ulcers and infections; failing to properly train and supervise staff; failing to provide proper monitoring and treatment; failing to provide prompt and adequate care after developing sores, ulcers and infections; failing to promptly and adequately chart condition and changes of condition and failing to properly transfer to a hospital for medical care.
The plaintiff seeks an amount in excess of $50,000, plus cost of suit. Vaughn is represented by Alan Pirtle of Brown & Crouppen PC in St Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 22-LA-000287