State Investigates Two Former Nurses at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center

A state investigation has been launched into Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Johnston, reports WOI TV. 

Johnston police said two nurses at the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center have been fired because they took inappropriate photos of residents of the home and posted them on Instagram, the TV station reported.

Police are investigating if any laws were broken and so is the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, WOI said.

Mercy Medical Center, which operates the retirement home, released this statement in response:

Following an internal review of the posting of an inappropriate resident photo on social media, Bishop Drumm Administration has terminated employment of individuals involved. In addition we reported the incident to the Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals (DIA) and to Johnston police.

"Publishing such photos of a resident, allegedly taken by rogue employees, not only violates Mercy and Bishop Drumm's core values – it also violates the human dignity of the resident," said Brian Farrell President and CEO of Bishop Drumm. "All employees are educated about Protected Health Information which includes photos. In addition they learn about elder abuse and how to prevent it. Such behavior cannot and will not be tolerated."

Bishop Drumm has re-educated all employees about residents' rights, especially elder abuse. Mercy's Core Values and the personal dignity of residents in our care was also stressed.