BELLEVILLE - A Belleville nursing home is being sued after one of its residents allegedly died due to negligent care.
The lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Jessica Hall, as independent administrator of the estate of Hattie Belle Matlock in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Helia Southbelt Health LLC and Bridmark Healthcare LLC.
According to the complaint, Matlock was admitted to Helia long-term care facility in 2014. She allegedly had a history of diabetes, stroke, muscle weakness and dementia.
"On admission, Hattie Belle Matlock was a high risk for falls given her multiple medications and multiple relevant medical conditions," the lawsuit states. "Despite this known high fall risk, Helia Southbelt did not implement proper fall precautions including adequate staffing and did not provide a safe environment for Hattie Belle Matlock."
Matlock allegedly fell out of her wheelchair on Oct. 2, 2017. She underwent a left hip hemiarthroplasty for a left hip fracture at Memorial Hospital Belleville the following day. She was not ambulatory after the fall and hip fracture.
Then in January 2020, Matlock developed a pressure ulcer over the plantar surface of her right foot, which was allegedly not properly evaluated or treated.
On April 3, 2020, Matlock allegedly suffered other wounds, which were found at St. Elizabeth's Hospital when she was admitted for IV antibiotics for her right foot infection.
Additionally, on April 11, 2020, Matlock allegedly suffered another injury when she was being moved by a CNA. She was diagnosed with a displaced fracture of her left proximal femur, which required surgery the next day.
"Due to the complications and decompensated state that resulted from these multiple deviations at Helia Southbelt including the left hip fracture, the decision was made to initiate hospice services," the suit states.
Matlock died Nov. 10, 2020.
Matlock's estate seeks unspecified damages to "fairly and adequately compensate the plaintiff for the injuries, losses and damages alleged." Wilson is represented by Eva Golabek of Kralovec Jambois & Schwartz in Chicago.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 22LA0963