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Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
After resident's death, Iowa nursing home is being fined $2,200 per day
The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing oversees nursing homes in the state of Iowa. (Photo via Getty Images; logo courtesy of the State of Iowa) In the wake of a resident death caused by an untreated bed sore, an Iowa nursing home is continuing to accrue daily fines for failing to comply with federal regulations. So far, those fines total more than $139,707, with an additional $2,200 in fines added each day the home remains out of compliance, according to state and federal regulators. State inspection records show that in January, the staff at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon, a 70-bed nursing home affiliated with the Sanford Medical Center, found that a male resident of the home had developed a reddened area on his coccyx, or tailbone. The staff failed to assess and treat the situation or notify the man's family or physician — even after it developed into an open sore in February, according to inspectors. The resident died on March 6. According to state inspectors, the immediate cause of death was MRSA cellulitis — a dangerous skin infection that stems from staph bacteria — caused by the open wound. 'There was bloody skin on both sides of the buttocks and continuing down it looked like hamburger,' a nurse aide reportedly told inspectors. The facility's director of nursing allegedly informed inspectors that certain employees were disciplined as a result of the death, adding, 'We are trying to do everything possible to prevent this from occurring again.' Administrator Richard Nordahl referred all questions on the matter to Sanford Health, which then issued a written statement, attributed to Nordahl, that said, 'Due to privacy laws, we are unable to provide any comment on this inquiry.' No state fines were imposed as a result of the death, although the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing's website indicated a federal fine of some sort was imposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. When asked, DIAL initially declined to disclose any information about the fine and referred the Iowa Capital Dispatch to CMS. A CMS spokesman then referred the Capital Dispatch back to DIAL. On Tuesday, a DIAL spokesman said the state agency had conferred with CMS and had obtained the federal agency's 'permission' to release the information. DIAL now says that after it was determined that regulatory violations had placed residents of the home in immediate jeopardy, a fine of $12,130 per day was imposed for the six days the jeopardy existed. The penalty totaled $72,780, but was reduced 35% by CMS, to $47,307, presumably because the home didn't appeal the fine. After the immediate-jeopardy situation was resolved, other issues still remained and so the daily fines continued but at the rate of $2,220 per day beginning March 12, 2025, according to DIAL. That particular fine will continue to accrue, DIAL says, until the facility 'has made the necessary corrections to achieve substantial compliance' with regulations. As of Tuesday, April 22, that $2,200 daily fine would have totaled $92,400. Combined, the two federal fines totaled $139,707 as of that date — although the second set of daily fines, like the first, remains subject to a 35% reduction if the home chooses to forgo an appeal. On CMS' five-star quality scale, the Sheldon facility currently has a one-star overall rating — the lowest possible score.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man dies of infection and untreated wound at hospital-affiliated Sheldon nursing home
SHELDON, Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch) — A hospital-affiliated nursing home in northwest Iowa has been cited for contributing to the death of a resident, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. State and federal records show that in January, the staff at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon, which is a 70-bed nursing home affiliated with the Sanford Medical Center, found that a male resident of the home had developed a reddened area on his coccyx. The staff failed to assess and treat the situation or notify the man's family or physician — even after it developed into an open sore in February, according to inspectors. Northeast Nebraska man pleads guilty to terroristic threats A nurse aide later told state inspectors that she informed a nurse on March 4 that the area around the wound 'looked like hamburger' and there was blood seeping through the white cream the staff had applied to the wound. The aide reported her observations to a nurse, who later acknowledged to inspectors that she had received the information but was too busy to check the wound herself. On March 6, the resident was admitted to the hospital's emergency room with a Stage 4 wound, indicating there was sufficient loss of tissue to result in exposed bone, muscles or tendons, with the potential for a serious complication such as an infection. The resident died two days later. According to state inspectors, the immediate cause of death was MRSA cellulitis — a dangerous skin infection that stems from staph bacteria — caused by the open wound. A second nurse aide interviewed by inspectors allegedly reported that the last time she examined the man's wound 'it looked absolutely awful,' and the resident's overall color was 'off' and he appeared gray and purple. 'There was bloody skin on both sides of the buttocks and continuing down it looked like hamburger,' the aide reportedly told inspectors. The facility's director of nursing allegedly informed inspectors that certain employees were disciplined as a result of the death, adding, 'We are trying to do everything possible to prevent this from occurring again.' Administrator Richard Nordahl referred all questions on the matter to Sanford Health. A spokesperson for the company indicated Tuesday that he was unable to comment on the matter at that time. Iowa farmers continue to worry amid trade war No state fines were imposed as a result of the death. Federal records indicate the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services imposed a civil money penalty of some kind, but a CMS spokesperson was unable to say Tuesday what that fine totaled. CMS' Care Compare website, which provides information for consumers that is often out of date, indicates Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon has been fined twice in the past three years, most recently in 2024 when it was fined $11,872. On CMS' five-star quality scale, the Sheldon facility currently has a one-star overall rating — the lowest possible score. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man dies of infection and untreated wound at hospital-affiliated nursing home
Sanford Senior Care is part of the Sanford Medical Center complex in Sheldon, Iowa. (Photo via Google Earth) A hospital-affiliated nursing home in northwest Iowa has been cited for contributing to the death of a resident. State and federal records show that in January, the staff at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon, which is a 70-bed nursing home affiliated with the Sanford Medical Center, found that a male resident of the home had developed a reddened area on his coccyx. The staff failed to assess and treat the situation or notify the man's family or physician — even after it developed into an open sore in February, according to inspectors. A nurse aide later told state inspectors that she informed a nurse on March 4 that the area around the wound 'looked like hamburger' and there was blood seeping through the white cream the staff had applied to the wound. The aide reported her observations to a nurse, who later acknowledged to inspectors that she had received the information but was too busy to check the wound herself. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On March 6, the resident was admitted to the hospital's emergency room with a Stage 4 wound, indicating there was sufficient loss of tissue to result in exposed bone, muscles or tendons, with the potential for a serious complication such as an infection. The resident died two days later. According to state inspectors, the immediate cause of death was MRSA cellulitis — a dangerous skin infection that stems from staph bacteria — caused by the open wound. A second nurse aide interviewed by inspectors allegedly reported that the last time she examined the man's wound 'it looked absolutely awful,' and the resident's overall color was 'off' and he appeared gray and purple. 'There was bloody skin on both sides of the buttocks and continuing down it looked like hamburger,' the aide reportedly told inspectors. The facility's director of nursing allegedly informed inspectors that certain employees were disciplined as a result of the death, adding, 'We are trying to do everything possible to prevent this from occurring again.' Senate passes bill on nursing home reviews, rejects Democrats' calls for more oversight Administrator Richard Nordahl referred all questions on the matter to Sanford Health. A spokesperson for the company indicated Tuesday that he was unable to comment on the matter at that time. No state fines were imposed as a result of the death. Federal records indicate the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services imposed a civil money penalty of some kind, but a CMS spokesperson was unable to say Tuesday what that fine totaled. CMS' Care Compare website, which provides information for consumers that is often out of date, indicates Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon has been fined twice in the past three years, most recently in 2024 when it was fined $11,872. On CMS' five-star quality scale, the Sheldon facility currently has a one-star overall rating — the lowest possible score. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
