Nursing home resident dies after being given wrong medication

A nursing home in Wadena has been blamed for errors in administering medication for three residents, including one who died.

The Minnesota Department of Health on Friday released records of its investigation at Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena and found that three residents were sent to the emergency room after the medication errors. The errors occurred from May 27 to June 12, 2009.

Two of the residents received medication not intended for them, and the third resident received his medications at the wrong time, according to the report.

One of the residents who received the wrong medication was taken to the hospital June 1, 2009, and she was taken off life support three days later. The woman, who had Alzheimer's, died a few days after that.

Medical records cited in the investigation showed the medication caused the woman's blood pressure to drop, and she contracted pneumonia.

Four staff members at the facility were blamed for the three errors, and the health department's investigation said despite training on administering medication, the investigation "indicated a systems failure on the part of the facility." The facility was found responsible for the neglect.

Officials at Fair Oaks Lodge did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

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