Fremont Nursing Home Fined $100,000

The California Department of Public Health has fined a Fremont nursing home $100,000 for a July 2014 choking incident that was the underlying cause of a patient death the following month.

According to CDPH records, Crestwood Manor in Fremont had had an extensive meal plan in place for the patient, who had been at the home since late 2012. She had suffered a head injury in a prior accident and had a history of swallowing difficulties.

Despite that history, the patient was allowed to eat her meals unassisted, so long as they were “set up” in advance by staff, which included cutting up her food.

On the day the patient choked, Crestwood’s staff was unable to perform the Heimlich maneuver successfully. Paramedics removed large pieces of uncut meat from her throat, records show. She suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of the choking and died the following month. The cardiac arrest contributed to her death, records show.

Crestwood said it would be vigilant monitoring patients at risk for choking, but said it would contest the citation and fine.