Several state-licensed nursing homes are facing fines due to recent discoveries of bed bugs, resident abuse, unexplained fractures and medication errors.
The violations are similar to facility inspections conducted through the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which oversees Iowa’s physical care facilities.
One of the highest fines, $6,250, was imposed on Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation Center for failing to adequately respond to a resident’s physical condition disorders caused by bed bugs.
According to inspectors, a resident of the home complained on Oct. 25, 2023, of itchy skin and a rash. Staff showed insect bites, provided creams after a delay of several days, and on Nov. 8, the facility warmed up. He treated the woman’s room against insects. Subsequently, the room was sprayed with bed bugs 3 times.
According to inspectors, the home’s assistant director of nursing said the facility’s nurse practitioner refused to see the resident after there were bugs in the room, adding that the home had had bed bug disorders in the past.
The inspector noted that the residential resident’s medical record did not mention bed bug problems. Inspectors reported that the resident’s sister had expressed fear of bringing insects home after visiting the care center and said she believed the center was incompetent.
At the time of the inspection, the government had six court cases pending investigation at the centre, five of which were well-founded.
The Fort Dodge facility is owned by Ensign Group Inc. , a California-based holding company whose subsidiaries operate more than 290 nursing homes in thirteen states. In a call with investors last October, Ensign Group announced that it had more than $1 billion to invest. in new acquisitions of nursing homes.
According to public documents, Ensign Group CEO Barry R. Port earned $8,020,763 in total 2022 reimbursement, of which $5. 3 million was provided in the form of bonuses.
Other Iowa physical care services cited for violations include:
Lantern Park Specialty Care, Coralville: This center was fined $500 for failing to investigate and report abuses by residents similar to the lack of narcotics. Inspectors reported that a registered nurse at the home told them she had reported that a resident was missing several doses of the opioid painkiller Tramadol. and that the director of nursing told him that the scenario was being investigated. The graduate nurse said she “felt that the incident had been overlooked and that nothing had been done,” inspectors reported. Inspectors reported that the house manager told them that the nursing director had failed to report a lack of medication. At the time of the inspection, government officials had five backlog court cases to investigate at the home, 4 of which were substantiated.
The Penn Center, Delhi: This nursing home was fined $500 for failing to adequately respond to a resident’s worsening respiratory disorders in the fall of 2023. According to inspectors, a resident of the home tested positive for COVID-19 last September and the same period. Over the course of several days, his oxygen saturation dropped to dangerous levels without any staff contacting the man’s number one care provider. On October 1, 2023, it was discovered that the man had difficulty breathing, had dark skin, and oxygen levels as He was then sent to a hospital emergency room, where he was intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit of a larger hospital. According to inspectors, the house manager claimed that neither she nor the nursing director of the house’s caretakers had been informed through staff of the man’s condition.
Bettendorf Health Care Center: The state proposed, and then suspended, a $7,000 fine to this retirement home for failing to interfere when a resident’s condition deteriorated. According to inspectors, staff at the home first saw a resident’s swollen right leg on Feb. 27, 2024. . The next day, staff saw very giant, dark purple bruises on the resident’s leg and the woman screamed in pain when she hit her leg. She was taken to the emergency room where doctors discovered that any of the bones in her right leg were broken. Staff could not provide any explanation as to how or when the woman’s leg was broken.
At the time of the inspection, the government had five court cases pending investigation in its country, two of which were well-founded.
Bedford Specialty Care: This home was fined $500 for failing to report possible abuse of two female citizens by a male resident who made sexual advances to them. One of the potential victims told detectives that the man entered her room and in one case in November 2023. He tried to kiss her, then came back, sat on his bed and said they could close the door so we would know what was going on. The guy continued to make advances to her after reporting the incidents to the administrator.
The home’s director of nursing reportedly told inspectors that she did not report the incidents until a separate matter arose with the male resident, at which point the man was closely monitored and later released. As part of the same resident abuse citation and a $500 fine, state inspectors noted that the home also failed to properly investigate the cause of a resident’s damaged leg in February 2024.
Cedar Rapids Gardens: This care facility was fined $500 by the state for failing to conduct background checks on a qualified nursing assistant before putting the user to paint in the house. According to inspectors, the home initiated a background check on offenders and was told to wait for a report. of the Criminal Investigations Division before allowing the NAC to begin work. Instead, the house provided the assistant to paint, despite the lack of INN findings authorizing his employment.
Opportunity Living, Rockwell City: This developmental care center was fined $500 for putting citizens in immediate danger by failing to temporarily identify and respond to a potential sexual assault. The crime relates to an incident that occurred in October 2023 in which a resident was bleeding vaginally. domain after being bathed by a male employee.
At a local hospital, the woman was diagnosed with a vaginal laceration, and according to inspectors, a hospital nurse texted the home to report that the injury appeared to be the result of a sexual assault. Inspectors informed a police officer of the possible attack and the upcoming suspension of an employee. On February 21, 2024, the officer informed the inspectors that no fees would be charged for this matter.
At the time of the inspection, the government had three court cases pending investigation in its country, none of which were substantiated.
Chariton Specialty Care: This facility was fined $500 for failing to ensure that an allegation of abuse was reported to the state. According to inspectors, a resident of the home told staff that a qualified nursing assistant had been physically brutal to another resident, causing them to cry. The accused employee did not separate from the alleged victim and was allowed to complete her shift after the incident, she informed the administrator and the director of nursing.
At the time of the inspection, government officials had five court cases pending investigation at the home, one of which was well-founded.
R. E. M. -Dalewood Drive, Marion: This developmental care center was fined $2,000 for failing to ensure staff consistently administered medications without errors. According to inspectors, a medication aide at the home mistakenly gave 8 resident mediations to one another resident of the home on Feb. 10, 2024. She immediately learned of the error, reported it, and the resident who received the medication was taken by ambulance to a hospital emergency room. The medical assistant worked in another institution, he didn’t know the citizens. of Dalewood Drive, and did not review the photographs of citizens in the medicine containers before offering them the medicine. The resident was released from the hospital five days after his admission, according to state reports.
by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 1, 2024
Several state-licensed nursing homes are facing fines due to recent discoveries of bed bugs, resident abuse, unexplained fractures and medication errors.
The violations are similar to facility inspections conducted through the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which oversees Iowa’s physical care facilities.
One of the highest fines, $6,250, was imposed on Fort Dodge Health and Rehabilitation Center for failing to adequately respond to a resident’s physical condition disorders caused by bed bugs.
According to inspectors, a resident of the home complained on Oct. 25, 2023, of itchy skin and a rash. Staff showed insect bites, provided creams after a delay of several days, and on Nov. 8, the facility warmed up. He treated the woman’s room against insects. Subsequently, the room was sprayed with bed bugs 3 times.
According to inspectors, the home’s assistant director of nursing said the facility’s nurse practitioner refused to see the resident after there were bugs in the room, adding that the home had had bed bug disorders in the past.
The inspector noted that the residential resident’s medical record did not mention bed bug problems. Inspectors reported that the resident’s sister had expressed fear of bringing insects home after visiting the care center and said she believed the center was incompetent.
At the time of the inspection, the government had six court cases pending investigation at the centre, five of which were well-founded.
The Fort Dodge facility is owned by Ensign Group Inc. , a California-based holding company whose subsidiaries operate more than 290 nursing homes in thirteen states. In a call with investors last October, Ensign Group announced that it had more than $1 billion to invest. in new acquisitions of nursing homes.
According to public documents, Ensign Group CEO Barry R. Port earned $8,020,763 in total 2022 reimbursement, of which $5. 3 million was provided in the form of bonuses.
Other Iowa physical care services cited for violations include:
Lantern Park Specialty Care, Coralville: This center was fined $500 for failing to investigate and report abuses by residents similar to the lack of narcotics. Inspectors reported that a registered nurse at the home told them she had reported that a resident was missing several doses of the opioid painkiller Tramadol. and that the director of nursing told him that the scenario was being investigated. The graduate nurse said she “felt that the incident had been overlooked and that nothing had been done,” inspectors reported. Inspectors reported that the house manager told them that the nursing director had failed to report a lack of medication. At the time of the inspection, government officials had five backlog court cases to investigate at the home, 4 of which were substantiated.
The Penn Center, Delhi: This nursing home was fined $500 for failing to adequately respond to a resident’s worsening respiratory disorders in the fall of 2023. According to inspectors, a resident of the home tested positive for COVID-19 last September and the same period. Over the course of several days, his oxygen saturation dropped to dangerous levels without any staff contacting the man’s number one care provider. On October 1, 2023, it was discovered that the man had difficulty breathing, had dark skin, and oxygen levels as He was then sent to a hospital emergency room, where he was intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit of a larger hospital. According to inspectors, the house manager claimed that neither she nor the nursing director of the house’s caretakers had been informed through staff of the man’s condition.
Bettendorf Health Care Center: The state proposed, and then suspended, a $7,000 fine to this retirement home for failing to interfere when a resident’s condition deteriorated. According to inspectors, staff at the home first saw a resident’s swollen right leg on Feb. 27, 2024. . The next day, staff saw very giant, dark purple bruises on the resident’s leg and the woman screamed in pain when she hit her leg. She was taken to the emergency room where doctors discovered that any of the bones in her right leg were broken. Staff could not provide any explanation as to how or when the woman’s leg was broken.
At the time of the inspection, the government had five court cases pending investigation in its country, two of which were well-founded.
Bedford Specialty Care: This home was fined $500 for failing to report possible abuse of two female citizens by a male resident who made sexual advances to them. One of the potential victims told detectives that the man entered her room and in one case in November 2023. He tried to kiss her, then came back, sat on his bed and said they could close the door so we would know what was going on. The guy continued to make advances to her after reporting the incidents to the administrator.
The home’s director of nursing reportedly told inspectors that she did not report the incidents until a separate matter arose with the male resident, at which point the man was closely monitored and later released. As part of the same resident abuse citation and a $500 fine, state inspectors noted that the home also failed to properly investigate the cause of a resident’s damaged leg in February 2024.
Cedar Rapids Gardens: This care facility was fined $500 by the state for failing to conduct background checks on a qualified nursing assistant before putting the user to paint in the house. According to inspectors, the home initiated a background check on offenders and was told to wait for a report. of the Criminal Investigations Division before allowing the NAC to begin work. Instead, the house provided the assistant to paint, despite the lack of INN findings authorizing his employment.
Opportunity Living, Rockwell City: This developmental care center was fined $500 for putting citizens in immediate danger by failing to temporarily identify and respond to a potential sexual assault. The crime relates to an incident that occurred in October 2023 in which a resident was bleeding vaginally. domain after being bathed by a male employee.
At a local hospital, the woman was diagnosed with a vaginal laceration, and according to inspectors, a hospital nurse texted the home to report that the injury appeared to be the result of a sexual assault. Inspectors informed a police officer of the possible attack and the upcoming suspension of an employee. On February 21, 2024, the officer informed the inspectors that no fees would be charged for this matter.
At the time of the inspection, the government had three court cases pending investigation in its country, none of which were substantiated.
Chariton Specialty Care: This facility was fined $500 for failing to ensure that an allegation of abuse was reported to the state. According to inspectors, a resident of the home told staff that a qualified nursing assistant had been physically brutal to another resident, causing them to cry. The accused employee did not separate from the alleged victim and was allowed to complete her shift after the incident, she informed the administrator and the director of nursing.
At the time of the inspection, government officials had five court cases pending investigation at the home, one of which was well-founded.
R. E. M. -Dalewood Drive, Marion: This developmental care center was fined $2,000 for failing to ensure staff consistently administered medications without errors. According to inspectors, a medication aide at the home mistakenly gave 8 resident mediations to one another resident of the home on Feb. 10, 2024. She immediately learned of the error, reported it, and the resident who received the medication was taken by ambulance to a hospital emergency room. The medical assistant worked in another institution, he didn’t know the citizens. of Dalewood Drive, and did not review the photographs of citizens in the medicine containers before offering them the medicine. The resident was released from the hospital five days after his admission, according to state reports.
Iowa Capital Dispatch is owned by States Newsroom, a grant-funded, nonprofit news network and donor coalition as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains its editorial independence. If you have any questions, please contact Editor Kathie Obradovich: info@iowacapitaldispatch. com. Follow the Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.
Deputy Editor Clark Kauffman has worked for more than 30 years as an investigative reporter and columnist for two of Iowa’s top newspapers, the Des Moines Register and the Quad-City Times. He has won national and national awards for his reporting and editorial writing.
Iowa Capital Dispatch is owned by States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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