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The WellQuest assisted living facility in Elk Grove. State regulators allege the company failed to properly supervise residents, contributing to the extreme heat death of a resident in the memory care unit. <\/p>\n
DANIEL LEMPRES<\/p>\n
dlempres@sacbee.com<\/p>\n
The California Department of Social Services has filed paperwork to revoke the operating license for an Elk Grove nursing home in response to the 2024 extreme heat death of a resident with dementia<\/a>, according to state records.<\/p>\n The state alleges that the facility<\/a>, WellQuest of Elk Grove, failed in their obligation to provide care and supervision to residents, contributing to the resident\u2019s death.<\/p>\n The revocation action was filed on March 5. In addition to revoking the facility\u2019s main operating license, the state also revoked the professional certification of the facility\u2019s administrator Elena Cuevas and the home health aide registration of an employee, Takesha Jackson. The state filed \u201cexclusion actions\u201d against Cuevas, Jackson and a third employee, Saileshni Sharma, that would bar them from working in certain congregate care settings again.<\/p>\n WellQuest Living bought the Elk Grove facility in 2019 for almost $30 million.<\/a><\/p>\n On Oct. 2, 2024, K.C., whose family asked that her full name be withheld to protect their privacy, was left in a courtyard outside the facility\u2019s memory care unit on a 102-degree day. K.C. arrived at the facility three days prior and had already been identified as a \u201cwanderer\u201d by her care team.<\/p>\n K.C. was found unresponsive after about two hours outside. When paramedics arrived her internal temperature was 105 degrees and doctors found first-degree burns covering nearly one-quarter of her body. She died four days later.<\/p>\n WellQuest of Elk Grove is licensed by the California Department of Social Services. In a state filing, the department alleges that the facility \u201cviolated a resident\u2019s personal rights, and failed to provide basic care and supervision\u201d to K.C..<\/p>\n CDSS alleged that the facility\u2019s administrator Elena Cuevas \u201chas demonstrated a lack of knowledge of and ability to conform to the applicable laws,\u201d and \u201chas failed to demonstrate good character and a continuing reputation of personal integrity as required of an administrator.\u201d<\/p>\n License Revocation Accusation filed against WellQuest of Elk Grove<\/p>\n After an accusation is filed, a hearing is set in the office of administrative hearings in front of an administrative law judge, said Seth Weinstein, an attorney who specializes in business and professional license defense.<\/p>\n The facility and state may reach a settlement before the hearing. Such settlements usually include an admission of guilt, corrective actions and a period of increased oversight similar to probation, Weinstein said.<\/p>\n After the hearing, the judge will issue a proposed decision that the state can either accept, reject or modify. This type of filing does not preclude the facility from housing patients as the matter is considered, Weinstein said.<\/p>\n If CDSS decides to permanently revoke the license, the facility could be closed or sold to another company, Weinstein said. A larger facility like WellQuest would likely find a buyer, but that purchase requires the agency\u2019s blessing.<\/p>\n K.C.\u2019s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in June. WellQuest tried to get the suit thrown out under a binding arbitration agreement K.C.\u2019s family signed when she moved into the facility, but that request was denied. The company is appealing the denial and the case is scheduled for a case management conference in August.<\/p>\n WellQuest Living was started in 2018 by the owners of FJ Management, a Utah-based company that owns gas stations like Flying J and Maverick and is also involved in wealth management and hospitality. WellQuest Living operates several care facilities in California, including WellQuest of Granite Bay.<\/p>\n WellQuest of Elk Grove \u201chas a solid track record with the Department of Social Services,\u201d Scott Bissey, senior vice president of operations for WellQuest Living, said in a statement. \u201cWe will continue to work openly and collaboratively with DSS to address this situation in a manner that is appropriate for all involved.\u201d<\/p>\n A federal lawsuit filed in August alleges that WellQuest failed to adequately protect patient records, leading to a data breach. In December, a class action lawsuit alleging wage theft was filed against the company in Sacramento superior court.<\/p>\n \u201cWellQuest of Elk Grove and our staff remain deeply saddened by this incident extend our heartfelt condolences to the family,\u201d Bissey said. \u201cNothing like this has ever happened before, and we maintain our commitment to ensure that an incident like this never happens again.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
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