CLEARFIELD UTAH, The family of a 66-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit alleging neglect at a nursing facility after she died following complications from pressure sores that developed during rehabilitation.
Tamara “Tammy” Bircumshaw, a Walmart greeter from Layton, was admitted to Rocky Mountain Care in Clearfield in July 2022 after undergoing hip surgery related to a prior work injury, according to the lawsuit. Her family claims she developed severe pressure ulcers while staying at the facility.
In an interview with local television station KTVX, her son, Kenny Bircumshaw, alleged that staffing shortages contributed to her decline. He said his mother initially appeared to be in good spirits but later experienced significant pain as her condition worsened.
According to the family’s attorney, Barry Toone, Bircumshaw began developing bedsores within 11 days of being admitted to the facility. She was expected to stay temporarily before undergoing surgery on her other hip. However, her second surgery was reportedly postponed due to the severity of a pressure sore.
The lawsuit alleges that she tested positive for MRSA approximately one month after her surgery was canceled. Court filings further claim that she did not begin receiving specialized wound care until December 27, 2022, when she was diagnosed with a stage-4 pressure ulcer. By that time, she had developed three bedsores, according to the complaint.
Toone told KTVX that one of the wounds measured 11 by 10 by 4 centimeters. The lawsuit states that Bircumshaw later died from sepsis in July 2023, which her family attributes to complications from the untreated pressure ulcers.
Her family has accused Rocky Mountain Care of being chronically understaffed and failing to provide appropriate care. The facility has not publicly commented on the specific allegations detailed in the lawsuit.
The matter remains pending in court.
