Iowa Receives “F” in Quality of Care Survey

A recent survey conducted by Families for Better Care, a Florida-based advocacy group, gave the state of Iowa an F grade in a recent report on nursing home quality of care.

The report cited five deaths and several injuries in nine nursing homes throughout the state as part of the reason for the grade. Another reason for the poor grade was inadequate direct-care staffing, or staffing shortages.

The cases involve medication errors, drug overdoses, sexual abuse and assaults.  The most serious cases include:

• A resident at Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center in Des Moines who died after a fatal infection after staff improperly inserted a catheter. The resident suffered a torn urethra and internal bleeding, resulting in septic shock and organ failure. Over an 18-hour period, staff documented large amounts of blood on the resident, but did not send him to the hospital.
• A resident in good physical health at Ogden Manor was given a drug intended for extreme anxiety. He was found in bed sweating, moaning and with blood around his mouth. Two hours later he was dead.
• A resident at Good Samaritan Home in Keosauqua died after falling while unsupervised. The resident was to be supervised while walking.
• A resident at ManorCare in West Des Moines was given nine drugs intended for another resident. The home did not have ipecac on hand. The resident suffered permanent injuries.
• ManorCare in Davenport was cited for several violations for falls resulting in fractured hips, an assault by an aggressive resident on his roommate, two separate instances of sexual assault and one resident threatening to kill his fellow residents.
• A resident at Pleasantview Home in Kalona given 10 times the intended blood pressure medication for six and a half weeks.

At the law office of PKSD, our nursing home abuse attorneys have an established track record holding negligence nursing homes responsible for their actions. If you believe that you have grounds to file a damages lawsuit, contact a personal injury lawyer from our law firm today and let us review the details of the incident. Your initial consultation is free and there are no upfront fees if we take on your case.

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