Arizona moves to revoke health facility’s state license after ‘several’ maggots found on resident

Arizona health officials moved to revoke the license of a healthcare facility after a report detailed that “several” maggots were found on a resident there.

State officials announced on Friday their plans to revoke Hacienda HealthCare’s license based on findings from a recent report and an “extremely disturbing incident involving inadequate patient care,” the Arizona Republic reported.

The facility is the same one in which an incapacitated female resident was raped and later gave birth last year. A male nurse has been arrested on multiple charges of sexual assault and abuse of a vulnerable adult in connection with the assault.{mosads}

“Strong and immediate action” is necessary to further protect Hacienda residents, officials said in an email statement. “The Notice of Intent to Revoke allows for the department to have increased accountability and oversight of the facility and does not mean Hacienda must immediately shut down.”

David Leibowitz, a spokesperson for the health care center, said Friday that “several” maggots were collected beneath a gauze bandage near the surgical incision of a 28-year-old male resident.

The patient was sent back to the hospital where the wound was cleaned and treated before he returned to the facility on Wednesday.

However, the problem persisted and “a few more maggots” were reportedly discovered Thursday. The patient returned to the hospital but dd not return to Hacienda, Leibowitz told the outlet.

Leibowitz said the patient’s incision was a stoma, an artificial hole surgically created on the body.

“Every resident of Hacienda who has a surgical incision has been examined by a medical provider and none of them are demonstrating anything like this,” Leibowitz said. 

An exterminator has been at the facility twice in 48 hours, he added.

“Also, a contractor is in the process of installing doorway blower fans meant to keep out insects like flies, which can come indoors and lay eggs that could have created a situation like this,” the facility said in a statement.

The family of the incapacitated woman filed a $45 million claim against the state in May for its “abysmal job” monitoring the facility. Hacienda initially announced it would be closing after the incident but the facility later agreed to state oversight to stay open.