Cedar Creek Hospital Sexual Abuse Lawsuit | Injury Lawyer Team

Residential treatment centers are healthcare facilities that care for vulnerable populations. They often provide services for individuals struggling with mental health issues, addiction, or behavioral challenges. Patient safety should be a top priority in these facilities, along with providing high-quality services. Adherence to professional standards of care is also expected.

When these standards are not met, the facility places its staff members and patients in harm’s way. As a result, people may suffer from negligence, abuse, or malpractice, which can include sexual abuse.

One way to ensure these standards are enforced in residential treatment centers is by holding them accountable when they fail. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help victims of abuse or neglect pursue legal action when they feel overwhelmed by their suffering.

Our Michigan residential treatment center abuse attorney team is committed to seeking compensation for legal damages if you or a family member have suffered in a facility like Cedar Creek Hospital.

About Cedar Creek Hospital

Overview

One residential treatment center located in Saint Johns, Michigan, is Cedar Creek Hospital. It has a capacity of 54 staffed beds, making it one of the smaller health clinics for children, adolescents, and adults struggling with mental health issues or behavioral challenges. Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan is located at 101 West Townsend Rd, Saint Johns, MI 48879.

Cedar Creek Hospital specializes in several care areas for local families and individuals, including military families. Veterans may be eligible for free services for suicide thanks to the Compact Act. Those facing depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, addiction, or trauma can access medical care and psychiatric support at Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan.

Their services also include evidence-based treatment, crisis stabilization services, inpatient programs, behavioral therapy, partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient programs.

Ownership and Affiliations

Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan is the facility’s legal name and subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. This parent company oversees over 400 healthcare facilities across the country, with hundreds of them serving individuals with mental health issues, including adolescents and adults.

In addition to Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan, Universal Health Services manages several other residential treatment centers in the Midwest, including:

• Forest View Hospital
• Havenwyck Hospital
• Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System
• Riveredge Hospital

Notable Legal Actions Against Cedar Creek Hospital

Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan has not been immune to legal issues or complaints against its staff. Although children, adolescents, and adults generally receive high-quality care while staying at this Michigan facility, some allegations and violations are worth noting.

Here are a few legal issues that have involved Cedar Creek Hospital or its parent company, Universal Health Services, Inc.

Massive Settlement by Universal Health Services for False Claims Act

UHS, including Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan, oversees several Michigan institutions. In 2020, UHS paid a $117 million settlement for violating the False Claims Act. $2.4 million was connected to facilities in Michigan, including Cedar Creek Hospital.

Numerous violations were cited as part of this case, including:

• Admission of Medicaid patients who were ineligible for inpatient or residential treatment
• Keeping beneficiaries at UHS facilities for longer periods than were necessary
• Billing for services not rendered to adults or adolescents
• Failure to provide adequate staffing and staff training
• Failure to supervise staff sufficiently for patient safety
• Failure to provide care per state and federal regulations
• Improper use of physical and chemical restraints and seclusion

These failures violate the federal False Claims Act and the Michigan Medicaid False Claims Act. This settlement was completed after 18 whistleblower lawsuits were brought against UHS across the United States [1].

Michigan State Analysis Discovers Alarming Number of Abuse and Neglect Allegations at Cedar Creek Hospital

The Local Public Health branch of the Michigan state government conducts analyses of abuse and neglect allegations at healthcare facilities. During the fiscal year 2020, between October 1st and March 30, statistics regarding these allegations were gathered on numerous facilities, including Cedar Creek Hospital.

The results reveal a frighteningly high rate of abuse or neglect allegations against Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan. During this period, 1,509 admissions occurred at this facility. There were 67 allegations made about abuse or neglect.

There were 58 investigations conducted into these allegations. The investigation substantiated fifteen of the allegations, resulting in nine interventions. However, only five of these interventions were substantiated.

This trend represents a troubling history of abuse and neglect accusations at Cedar Creek Hospital. The issues cited in these allegations were either for abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse [2].

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Cedar Creek Hospital

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services evaluates and inspects most healthcare facilities across the United States. These inspections are sometimes conducted regularly but may also occur in response to complaints. The CMS findings reveal that Cedar Creek Hospital has numerous deficiencies, especially compared to state or national averages.

Here are some weaknesses found at Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan in recent years.

• Only .7% of healthcare workers were up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, compared to the national average of 13.7%.
• Only 44% of patients with alcohol abuse problems received or refused an intervention during their stay, compared to the national average of 60%.
• Only 33% of patients with alcohol abuse problems received a brief intervention during their stay, compared to the national average of 77%.
• Only 3% of patients who screened positive for an alcohol or drug use disorder during their stay received either a medication to treat their disorder or a referral for addiction treatment upon their discharge, compared to the national average of 61%.
• Only 1% of patients who use tobacco received a referral for outpatient counseling and a prescription to help them quit upon discharge, compared to the national average of 16%.
• 20.4% of patients were readmitted to a hospital after discharge from the treatment facility, compared to 19.6% nationally [3].

Understanding Your Rights

If you are a patient at Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan or know a close family member who is staying there, the state and federal governments afford certain rights to residents in treatment facilities.

You have the right to access quality care, live in a safe environment, and maintain personal dignity. If the staff at Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan violate these rights, they open themselves to potential lawsuits.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help victims and families of abuse or neglect recover compensation for legal damages. These damages may include lost income, medical bills, future medical expenses, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. In wrongful death cases, additional damages may include funeral costs and loss of consortium.

Hiring lawyers with experience in a particular type of case is crucial. For example, if you suffered sexual abuse at Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan, you should work with a legal team experienced in this subject. Our team has worked with victims of many types of abuse and neglect in residential treatment centers.

You must act quickly to avoid the statute of limitations in Michigan. Your case could be dismissed if you wait too long. In Michigan, you have two years from the date of the incident to file claims for medical malpractice and three years to file personal injury claims.

The civil statute of limitations for sexual misconduct is seven years after the individual realizes they were a victim.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

Experienced legal representation can make all the difference in your case against Cedar Creek Hospital or Universal Health Services. With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, you will have sound legal guidance and a commitment to success.

It starts with a free consultation with a qualified attorney. During this consultation, you can ask questions about your Michigan abuse or neglect case, whether it involves children, adolescents, or adults. You can also learn more about the legal process for filing claims against facilities like Cedar Creek Hospital of Michigan.

Another benefit of working with our team is the contingency fee agreement. Many victims are worried about pursuing legal action because of the upfront costs. Our residential treatment center abuse lawyers only receive payment if they successfully recover a settlement on your behalf, reducing the financial burden you must bear for your case against Cedar Creek Hospital.

Call us today at 888-424-5757 or complete the online form to request a free case evaluation.

Resources: [1] Legal News, [2] MDHHS, [3] CMS

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.