How to Report a Nursing Home in Virginia
Moving a family member to a nursing home is a scary transition. You assume your loved ones will be well taken care of and receive the care they need. However, not all nursing home employees treat residents with the respect they deserve.
If you suspect your loved one is being neglected or abused, it’s imperative you take action immediately. You may be wondering how to report a nursing home in Virginia.
There are Virginia elder abuse laws with provisions to protect nursing home residents. You can file a report with the Virginia Department of Health to start.
You can also speak with one of our Virginia nursing home abuse attorneys at Lantz & Robins, P.C., today to discuss the best course of action for your situation.
How to Report a Nursing Home for Neglect
You might assume that your only course of action is to file a lawsuit against the nursing home, but we don’t recommend that option to start.
To win a lawsuit against the nursing home, you need to prove that the nursing home was negligent and that its negligence was the proximate cause of your family member’s injuries. You also have to show that your loved one suffered harm due to the nursing home’s negligence.
Even though your family member may have suffered some harm, you don’t need to file a lawsuit for every incident. You may be better off trying to resolve it out of court.
Not to mention a lawsuit will take considerable time to resolve, and it could be well over a year before your case settles. Not to mention, there’s always a risk that Medicaid or Medicare will want their share of the settlement.
So, what do you do instead? Many clients we speak with say their primary concern is to ensure that the abuse or neglect doesn’t happen to another family. Filing a report with the appropriate agency in Virginia will trigger them to open an investigation to check out your concerns.
Where to Report a Problem with a Nursing Home in Virginia?
When you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect in Virginia, you need to file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC). The board will investigate your concerns by sending out a team of investigators to the nursing home to review the situation.
They will not give the nursing home any notice either. During their visit, they will check your family member’s chart and condition and verify whether the level of care received met the legal standards of Virginia law.
You can report the suspected abuse or neglect by contacting the Virginia Department of Health hotline at 1-800-955-1819. There is also an online Virginia nursing home report form you can complete and return in the mail or via fax.
The OLC only responds to complaints involving suspected neglect, abuse, inadequate care, mistreatment, failure to treat, etc. They have no jurisdiction over any disputes related to billing practices or fees.
Contact a Virginia Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer
If you believe your case is severe enough to warrant legal action beyond a formal complaint with the Virginia Department of Health, you need to speak with one of our attorneys.
Our legal team has decades of combined personal injury experience, including with nursing home abuse cases. We can review your circumstances and advise you on the best course of action. Contact Lantz & Robins, P.C., today to schedule an initial consultation.
W. RANDOLPH ROBINS, JR.
Mr. Robins is an active member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice, groups that are dedicated to making transportation, healthcare, and workplaces safer for average people. Born and raised in Richmond, Mr. Robins graduated from the University of North Carolina and earned his law degree from the Washington College of Law at American University.
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