Dermott City Nursing Home has been without an administrator since July 28, 2025, when the last person in that role resigned, according to state inspection records from a December complaint investigation.
The compliance officer confirmed to inspectors on December 22 that she was not the administrator and does not have an administrator's license. She stated "no one was filling the capacity as the Administrator at the facility at that time and they were currently working on hiring someone."
Yet this same compliance officer signed her name in the administrator section of a state incident report filed December 2 about a certified nursing assistant's improper transfer that fractured a resident's right thigh bone. The resident required surgical intervention for the acute femur fracture.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to have a licensed administrator overseeing day-to-day operations. The facility's own job description, revised in October 2022, states the administrator must "direct the day-to-day functions of the facility in accordance with current, federal, state and local standards, guidelines and regulations that govern the nursing facilities to assure the highest degree of quality care can be provided to residents at all times."
The position requires "a current unencumbered nursing home Administrator's license or meet the license requirements of the state," according to the facility's documentation.
During the inspection's entrance conference on December 19, the director of nursing told state surveyors the facility had an interim administrator who was not present that day. But the facility's key personnel sheet contained no name listed for the administrator position.
Human Resources confirmed the timeline during a December 22 interview, stating the last administrator's final day was July 28, 2025.
The compliance officer told inspectors on December 23 that no candidates had been interviewed for the administrator position since July. She said the facility was advertising the opening on an internet job site and in the local newspaper.
State inspectors attempted to reach the facility's board president by telephone on December 23, leaving a voicemail with contact information and requesting a return call. No response was received by the end of the inspection day.
The facility's own administrative policy, revised in January 2025, emphasizes the governing body's responsibility for management and operation of the facility, including "oversight of facility care and services in accordance with professional standards of practice and principles."
The violation affects "many" residents, according to the inspection report, as the absence of proper administrative oversight impacts the entire facility's operations and compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
The improper transfer incident that broke the resident's thigh bone occurred during this period of administrative vacancy, with the compliance officer handling the required state reporting despite lacking the proper credentials and authority for the administrator role.
Federal inspectors classified the violation as causing "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" but noted the facility's failure to use its resources effectively and efficiently by operating without required administrative leadership.
The inspection was conducted as a complaint investigation, suggesting concerns about the facility's operations prompted the state review that uncovered the extended administrative vacancy.
Nursing homes must maintain licensed administrators to ensure compliance with complex federal and state regulations governing resident care, staffing, safety protocols and incident reporting. The administrator serves as the facility's primary point of accountability for meeting these standards.
The five-month gap in administrative leadership at Dermott City Nursing Home represents a significant breakdown in the facility's governance structure, leaving residents without the required oversight during a period that included at least one serious injury requiring surgical intervention.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Dermott City Nursing Home from 2025-12-23 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.