Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog

Pamm Dickey, former Administrator of Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, reportedly is a family's worst nightmare - abusive to the helpless nursing home residents entrusted into her care.

The State of Oklahoma began watching the facility in the summer of 2008 after four complaints were filed concerning Dickey's behavior. In the August 15, 2008, 151 page report, Dickey is repeatedly cited for being both verbally and mentally abusive to residents and staff members.

A SAD SITUATION

A resident was admitted in May 2008 for rehabilitation following surgery on both knees, for which she had physician's orders for physical therapy. This resident required a mechnical lift to use the restroom and a wheelchair to move about. The resident needed to visit her orthopedist 32 miles away but Pleasant Manor's van couldn't make the trip. A lift van company could not be utilized due to the resident's knee braces and the family could not take her by car. Staff members advised Dickey of the situation; Dickey told the staff member to call the family to come and get her that she wanted the resident "out by Thursday (June 26). I don't care where she goes."

The resident's family could not transport her by car nor could they remove her from the facility as they could not carry her to the restroom. A staff member began the transfer process to another facility, but the facility social worker advised that she could not be taken until Friday, June 27. When Dickey was apprised of the situation, she replied, "yes, they will, they will accept her on Thursday because she'll be off skilled and I want her out of my building by 5 p.m. I don't care where she goes but she is not going to stay here. Hell, her daughter can keep her."

On June 27, the Administrator of the receiving facility called and set up a July 1, 2008 transfer date with the Director of Nursing via ambulance transport. On June 30, the Administrator contacted Pleasant Manor to confirm the transfer and was told that she needed to speak to Dickey. According to the Administrator of the receiving facility, Dickey began "yelling at me that she was going to kick [the resident] out on her a-- by 5 p.m. today!" When Dickey was questioned, she confirmed that she was the Administrator. The receiving Administrator was told that Dickey's "facility was being run by the state anyway and they appointed her to that position 'so they can kiss my ass!" The receiving Administrator told Dickey that it was unethical and asked her where were her morals. She stated that she was going to contact Adult Protective Services (APS) for the resident's safety and Dickey told her to "tell APS to bring a car to pick [the resident] up then because I will set her ass on the goddamn curb!"

OTHER ABUSIVE BEHAVIORS

The report noted that Dickey also argued with a resident over a television remote control and berated two residents for pushing their call buttons too often. She also removed a resident's belongings from her room and moved a roommate in with her while the resident was away having cataract surgery. She kept the resident's belongings, a Bible and magnifying glass among other things, locked up and refused to return them.

END RESULT

Pleasant Manor was slapped with a $10,000 per day fine from August 13 to 15, 2008 for subjecting residents to immediate jeopardy. The home is currently being fined $1,200 per day until it achieves compliance with federal and state regulations. Effective October 14, 2008, Medicare and Medicaid are denying payment for all new residents admitted until compliance is achieved. The home's provider agreement will be terminated on February 15, 2009 if it does not attain substantial compliance with regulations.

Dickey is to appear before the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators concerning her license. Six complaints have been lodged against Dickey since 1999, when she was licensed, but she was cleared in those cases. She resigned as the Administrator of Pleasant Manor on August 13, 2008.