Patient Deaths Cited As 7 Nursing Homes Settle With State

Attorney General Maura Healey has reached settlements with seven nursing homes that include fines and quality improvement measures after a statewide investigation discovered failings that led to injuries, and in some cases patient deaths.

In one facility, a patient died after been caught in "outdated and faulty" bed rails, Healey said at a press conference. Another patient died after staff failed to administer medication that could have prevented a fatal blood clot.

"My hope today is that entities operating in the state will live up to expectations of quality of care and quality of life and if they don't they'll have to answer to our office," Healey said.

There are more than 400 nursing homes in Massachusetts operating 45,000 beds, but officials said the industry is facing severe financial and demographic challenges that has led to "cutting corners" and shortages in staffing or substandard training that is affecting the level of care seniors receive.

The nursing homes caught up in the "major and significant statewide investigation" will pay $500,000 in fines that will go into a fund operated by the Department of Public Health to monitor and improve nursing home care.

Settlements were reached with Oxford Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Haverhill, Jewish Nursing Home of Longmeadow, Woodbriar Health Center in Wilmington, Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Westborough, Braemoor Health Center in Brockton, Wakefield Center in Wakefield and The Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Everett.

Healey said that Synergy Health Care, which operates the Brockton and Wilmington facilities, will also be barred from doing business in Massachusetts for seven years.