SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A former nurse at Countryside Health Care Center testified at a recent hearing, alleging that she was asked to falsify medical records and have unqualified aides administer drugs to residents. The nurse, Teressa A. Hansen, resigned from the facility in late June, citing the management’s actions as the reason for her departure. She testified that the staffing levels at the facility had been reduced to the point where it was difficult to provide adequate care to the 52 residents.
According to state records, Hansen claimed that in June 2023, the facility’s management instructed her to train a certified nursing assistant on how to perform the duties of a licensed registered nurse and have the CNA take over certain nursing duties, such as passing out medication. When she objected, management allegedly told her not to question the decision. Following this, she resigned, and a judge ruled in her favor, awarding her unemployment benefits.
In addition to these allegations, Countryside Health Care Center was cited in multiple deaths prior to its closure in July. According to state records, the home’s administrator in early June was replaced before the home closed. State inspectors found numerous federal and state violations in the months leading up to the closure.
These findings indicate a pattern of neglect and misconduct at the facility, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services fining Countryside Health Care Center multiple times in the years leading up to its closure. The facility was owned by a New York-based real estate company and operated by a for-profit Iowa corporation, both of which are facing legal action from former residents and their families.
The allegations against Countryside Health Care Center raise serious concerns about the quality of care provided to residents and the lack of oversight in nursing home facilities. The testimonies from former staff members and the history of violations at the facility highlight the need for stricter regulations and more rigorous enforcement measures to protect vulnerable residents in such care facilities.
The case of Countryside Health Care Center serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilant monitoring and accountability in nursing home facilities to ensure the safety and well-being of their residents. It also underscores the need for transparency and stringent regulatory oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.