Thomasville Police investigate two deaths and inadequate staffing at local nursing home
{Stock Photography}
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prepared by: Captain Brad Saintsing
Contact Information:
Captain Brad Saintsing
brad.saintsing@thomasville-nc.gov
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO HEALTH & REHABILITATION CENTER AFTER WELFARE CHECK
Thomasville, NC – A welfare check Sunday evening has led authorities to open an investigation into Pine Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Center located at 706 Pineywood Road, Thomasville.
On Sunday, January 16, 2022, at 7:56 p.m., Thomasville officers responded to Pine Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Center after receiving calls that staff could not be contacted by telephone and had not been seen by some residents of the facility. Officers arrived on scene and determined there was inadequate staffing to accommodate the 98 patients of the facility.
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Staffing at the time officers arrived consisted of one licensed practical nurse and two certified nursing assistants. Officers immediately contacted Thomasville Fire Department and Davidson County Emergency Medical Services for assistance. An abundance of first responders arrived on scene and began going door to door assessing each and every patient. Davidson County EMS, Davidson County Emergency Management and Thomasville Fire Department personnel remained at the facility until 7:30 a.m., Monday morning, ensuring all patients were adequately taken care of.
Two patients were found to be deceased. The families of the deceased had been notified earlier in the day by staff. The two deceased individuals were sent to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital for autopsies.
Two patients were found to be in critical condition. One was transported to High Point Medical Center Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist while the second patient was transported to Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center.
“Obviously, the weather and road conditions contributed to the inadequate staffing issues with this facility,” said Captain Brad Saintsing. “First and foremost, we want to ensure each and every resident of the facility is getting the quality of care they deserve. With these type of facilities, there is a protocol and we want to ensure it was followed as it relates to the weather and/or emergency situations.”
Agencies involved in the investigation include the Thomasville Police Department, N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, Davidson County District Attorney’s Office, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), and Davidson County Social Services. NCDHHS is currently at the facility overseeing operations.
Pine Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Center parent company is Principle LTC. According to their website, Principle currently operates 56 centers (~7,200 beds) in North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky, offering services ranging from short-term transitional care to Alzheimer’s and dementia care.
