Nursing Home Cited for Ignoring Woman’s Acute Pain

Oakland Manor, a western Iowa nursing home with a reputation for being one of the worst facilities in the nation, may receive new penalties.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that state inspectors visited the Pottawattamie County facility back in May after receiving multiple complaints. During that visit, inspectors cited the facility for violation of 17 federal regulations.

Nursing Staff Ignored Female Resident’s Acute Pain and Worsening Condition

According to the inspector’s report, nursing staff repeatedly ignored a female resident’s complaints about being in “unbearable” pain. Inspectors say the female resident had also complained about feeling both nauseous and dizzy. In fact, inspectors discovered that the woman was repeatedly passing out.

A nurse aide told two licensed practical nurses (LPNs) on shift about her condition and asked them to examine her. However, the two LPNs ignored the nurse aide’s concerns and neglected to check on the resident. Despite being told about her worsening condition, the two LPNs also neglected to notify the doctors.

After the day nurse came on shift, the nurse aide, visibly upset and shaken, told her about the woman’s condition and asked her to “come right away” to check on her. By this time, the woman was in extreme pain and begging to be taken to the hospital. The day-shift nurse transferred the woman to the hospital, and the two LPNs, according to inspectors, were later fired.

Once at the hospital, the woman was diagnosed with acute diverticulitis as well as an acute kidney injury. She required an immediate transfusion of two units of blood because of internal gastrointestinal bleeding that had not been addressed.

The failure of these nurses to act caused this woman to unnecessarily suffer prolonged pain. It also delayed her hospital admission and getting the care she needed.

Other Violations at the Facility

As a result of their May visit, the inspectors cited the facility for several violations, including:

• Failing to post nurse-staffing data to the public
• Failing to maintain an acceptable quality of care
• Not meeting medication and treatment standards
• Inadequate abuse and neglect training
• Inaccurate resident assessments
• Unsanitary food-preparation services
• Substandard quality improvement efforts
• And more

Additionally, Oakland Manor was cited for not making sure a registered nurse was on duty for a minimum of eight consecutive hours per day, seven days per week.

No Fines Assessed To Date

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals initially assessed Oakand Manor with a $9,000 fine. However, this penalty was raised to $27,000 for repeated violations. That fine was later suspended by the department. To date, no federal fines have been reported.

CMS also issued $416,475 in fines to Oakland Manor for other regulatory violations. However, this penalty was later reduced by 35 percent – to $270,708 – because the facility did not appeal the violations. However, that fine has yet to be paid.

Just two months prior, the facility paid out $82,798 in federal fines, which had been assessed for violations inspectors found during a November 2020 inspection.

The facility currently has a one star rating on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services scale. Combining this score, along with being banned from the CMS special-focus facility list, makes it one of the worst facilities in the nation.

Call PKSD for Help With Suspected Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

At PKSD, we are prepared to provide legal help when you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect of a family member.

Our Wisconsin-based nursing home abuse attorneys are ready to discuss your situation in a completely free initial consultation. There is no obligation to move forward with a claim. However, if we do represent you, there are no upfront costs or fees to pay. We have a proven history of results, recovering millions for injured victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and New Mexico.

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