Hacienda HealthCare: Arizona Facility's Licence To Be Revoked After Maggots Found On Patient

Hacienda De Los Angeles’ Immediate Care Facility for the Intellectually Disabled (ICF-IID), in Phoenix, will have its license revoked after maggots were found in a patient last week.

The facility was recently in the news after a staff member was charged with raping a woman in coma and impregnating her.

A spokesman for the 60-bed facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities, David Leibowitz said a 28-year-old patient was found having ‘several’ maggots beneath his gauze bandage near his stoma incision.

The state notice said that a respiratory therapist, on June 12, found six to 12 maggots near the surgical incision of the male patient. Leibowitz confirmed that no further issues were identified and no other Hacienda residents were "similarly impacted." AZ Central said the patient had been sent to a hospital, treated and sent back to Hacienda HealthCare, but the next day, maggots were found again and the patient was sent back to the hospital. The state’s Notice of Intent said the maggot infestation was likely due to "inadequate and poor hygiene."

Hacienda HealthCare is the same facility where in 2018 an incapacitated, 29-year-old female resident was raped. No one knew about the ordeal until she delivered a baby while still in coma. A male nurse was arrested and charged with sexual assault and abuse of a vulnerable adult.

The CNN said the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) announced last Friday that it has issued a Notice of Intent to Revoke the license of the concerned facility. The notice said that the Department has determined strong and immediate action is necessary to protect the Hacienda ICF-IID residents.

The healthcare facility has 30 days to decide for a hearing and fight back against the state to keep its license. The state further said that if there is no appeal from Hacienda HealthCare, the licence will automatically be revoked on July 16. CBSNews said the Notice of Intent allows ADHS to have increased accountability and oversight of the concerned facility, but it does not mean that it will ‘immediately shut down’.

However, earlier this year, the Hacienda HealthCare had announced that it will close the facility. The board of directors had said that it is simply not sustainable to continue to operate.