Nursing home fined over resident's death

EBENSBURG, Pa. (AP) -- The state fined a Cambria County-owned nursing home more than $10,000 in the wake of a resident's death but did not revoke its operating license.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health imposed a $7,500 civil penalty against the Laurel Crest Rehabilitation and Special Care Center for the Dec. 3 overdose death of a resident. The state will not shut down the facility, nursing home Administrator Chris Dear told county officials Friday.
State investigators found deficiencies after probing the death of Eleanor Lee Kinnan, 70, of Revloc, from a morphine overdose.
Laurel administrators said the nurse who gave the morphine later realized the dosage was improper. The nurse was suspended without pay pending an investigation by the coroner and district attorney.
State investigators last month warned Laurel Crest to correct problems or face closure. The nursing home has since implemented a state-approved corrections plan that includes new procedures and staff training on dispensing drugs.
The state fined Laurel Crest $7,500 for 16 deficiencies; it also imposed a $5,000 fine -- reduced from an initially recommended $10,000 -- for federal deficiencies.
That amount could be further reduced to $3,250 if the county does not appeal. County Commissioner P.J. Stevens said the county will not appeal.
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