Iowa nursing home under state investigation for 15 complaints, proposes $30k fine

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals visited Sioux City-based Westwood Specialty Care nursing home to investigate 15 separate complaints and four self-reported incidents, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported Oct. 24.

The inspectors found that at least 11 of the 15 complaints and all the self-reported incidents were substantiated. 

The home was cited for 10 violations:

  1. Failure to report alleged regulatory violations 
  2. Inadequate timing and revision of residents' care plans 
  3. Failure to provide assistance with daily living
  4. Failure to provide adequate quality of care 
  5. Failure to keep the home free of accident hazards 
  6. Failure to employ sufficient nursing staff 
  7. Failure to maintain a medication error rate of 5 percent or lower 
  8. Failure to follow physician-prescribed diets 
  9. Failure to properly maintain a quality assurance committee 
  10. Failure to follow infection prevention and control guidelines

A potential $30,000 state fine is being held in suspension while CMS considers imposing a federal fine.

Over the past two and a half years, CMS has fined Westwood Speciality Care more than $130,000. The home's administrator could not be reached for comment, according to the report.

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