3 die at Vets Home after errors

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1029701.html

3 die at Vets Home after errors
Three deaths and new rule violations prompted action; VA may cut $7 million in funding.

By Warren Wolfe, Star Tribune

To read the state's reports on the investigation into the deaths of three veterans the Minneapolis Veterans Home, go to www. startribune.com/a2396

State inspectors said Tuesday that three men died at the Minneapolis Veterans Home after neglect or medication errors last month, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty promptly ordered the Minnesota Department of Health to begin monitoring day-to-day operations of the state-owned nursing home.

The governor's action was prompted by the deaths, two years of "not so good" inspections that found scores of infractions, and the threat by federal officials on Friday to cut off about $7 million in payments for the care of veterans at the Minneapolis facility, said Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach.

Two of the men who died were in hospice care; one was given penicillin and the other morphine sulfate when they were allergic to the drugs. Investigators said they did not determine whether the medication errors caused the deaths.

The third man was a diabetic who died after five nurses improperly monitored his plunging blood sugar.

One nurse gave him a medication that lowered his blood sugar further.

None of the men who died was identified in the two investigation reports by the department's Office of Health Facility Complaints, dated Monday and given to the Minneapolis home Tuesday morning. The home was cited for three rules violations in connection with the deaths.

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blood sugar wrong?