EDMONDS — Nurses at an Edmonds rehabilitation center claimed a “fax problem” may have caused a delay in getting medication for an elderly resident, leading to her death, according to a new lawsuit filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.
In August 2020, Lulua Pearl Ingram died from sepsis, a life-threatening bodily reaction to an untreated urinary tract infection that was being monitored two weeks prior, according to the lawsuit filed late last month. She was 75.
Ingram’s daughter claims health care workers at Aldercrest Health and Rehabilitation Center did not properly monitor her mother’s UTI symptoms and left her unmedicated for over a week.
“Lulua Pearl Ingrum suffered miserably through severe pain and suffering that resulted in death,” the lawsuit states.
UTIs are a common bacterial infection, easily treatable with antibiotics, but they can spread to the kidney and cause more severe health issues if untreated. UTIs can cause discomfort, pain or burning while urinating. In seniors or vulnerable adults, however, they are often detected by a confused mental state or a “sudden change in behavior” that can go unnoticed by health care workers, according to Belvedere Health Services.
Aldercrest had a policy focused on residents with UTIs called “Bowel and Bladder” that “did not include monitoring/evaluating or reporting vital information related to UTI,” according to the lawsuit. It is unclear what exactly this policy entailed.
Ingram had been living in the facility at 21400 72nd Ave. W. for two or three months and had a history of UTIs, according to the lawsuit.
On July 17, 2020, a month before her death, Ingram was seen by a medical provider due to abdominal pain and painful urination, the complaint says. The health care worker ordered her nurses to collect a urine sample and monitor her.
Nurses collected a sample from Ingram, but reportedly did not document any symptoms for three days.
Nearly a week later, Ingram saw the medical provider again, who noted Ingram was lethargic and “unable to follow commands,” according to the complaint. They reportedly prescribed Ciproflaxin while they waited for lab results.
Nine days later, the report concluded Ingram’s urine was infected by two different bacteria, the lawsuit says. The medical provider prescribed antibiotics.
Aldercrest nurses did not notify Ingram’s doctor about her test results for another nine days, leaving the resident without the necessary treatment, according to the lawsuit.
An Aldercrest provider told attorneys the delay may have been due to a faxing issue. The facility had been experiencing “a phone line issue which also compromised the fax machine used to deliver paper lab results,” according to the complaint.
Nine days was reportedly “too long to go without medication,” the lawsuit claims.
In early August, Ingram began exhibiting an “altered mental status” that concerned nurses, the complaint says. She was taken to the emergency room and diagnosed with sepsis related to UTI.
Ingram remained in the hospital for 10 days before she died.
Ingram’s daughter is suing the facility for general negligence, corporate negligence, negligent supervision and retention, fraud and wrongful death.
Daiya Healthcare, the owner of Aldercrest, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; maya.tizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.
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