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:
- Failure to report alleged regulatory violations
- Inadequate timing and revision of residents' care plans
- Failure to provide assistance with daily living
- Failure to provide adequate quality of care
- Failure to keep the home free of accident hazards
- Failure to employ sufficient nursing staff
- Failure to maintain a medication error rate of 5 percent or lower
- Failure to follow physician-prescribed diets
- Failure to properly maintain a quality assurance committee
- 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.