SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A former nurse at Countryside Health Care Center in Sioux City, Iowa, recently testified that she was asked to falsify medical records and to have unqualified aides administer drugs to residents. The testimony was given during a hearing on her request for unemployment benefits, and she mentioned that she resigned from the facility in late June after working there for six months as a registered nurse. The former nurse also stated that management at Countryside had cut the number of employees to a point where it was difficult to maintain the staffing levels needed to provide care to the 52 residents.
During the hearing, the nurse alleged that she was instructed to train a certified nursing assistant (CNA) to perform the duties of a licensed registered nurse, including passing out medication. When she objected, the management allegedly told her not to question the decision. As a result, she resigned the next day, and her allegations were later deemed credible by the Administrative Law Judge Patrick B. Thomas, who ruled that she had resigned for good cause attributable to the nursing home and awarded her benefits.
Furthermore, the article also mentioned that Countryside Health Care Center was cited for multiple violations, including incidents involving resident deaths and inadequacies in care. The home eventually closed in late July, and the former administrator was replaced before the closure. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported that the facility had been fined 14 times by the federal government in the three years leading up to its closure.
It’s important to note that Countryside was owned by a New York-based real estate company, 6120 Morningside Avenue Propco, and operated by Opco Sioux City, a for-profit Iowa corporation. The former resident and her family are suing the facility, alleging repeated failures in medical care. Opco has denied any wrongdoing, and the case is scheduled for trial in June 2024.
This story sheds light on the challenges facing nursing homes in maintaining the quality of care and adhering to state regulations. It also underscores the importance of adequate staffing and the potential consequences of understaffing in such facilities. The former nurse’s testimony and the subsequent ruling by the Administrative Law Judge highlight the serious nature of the allegations and the impact they can have on the individuals receiving care at these facilities.
In summary, the former nurse’s testimony has brought to light concerning practices at Countryside Health Care Center in Sioux City, Iowa, leading to the facility’s closure and legal actions against the operating corporation. The story highlights the importance of upholding standards of care in nursing homes and the potential consequences of failing to do so.