Incident involved improperly restraining, placing heavy medical device on patient
FRANKFORT, KY. (Sept. 24, 2018) – Attorney General Andy Beshear and his Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse today announced the indictment of four caregivers at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood Campus for alleged abuse of a patient.
Ellyssa Klein, 26, of Fort Myers, Florida; Sandra Nobbe, 28, of Florence; Ashley Flower, 30, of Cincinnati; and Gary Ray, 71, of Cincinnati, have each been charged with one count of knowingly abusing or neglecting an adult, a Class C felony.
A Kenton County grand jury indicted the four individuals Thursday, Sept. 20.
The indictment alleges that between July 1-2, 2015, Klein, Nobbe and Flower improperly restrained a patient, which included placing a therapy bag on the patient to act as a weight to restrict his movement. Ray, who was also acting as a caregiver at the time of the incident, observed the abuse and neglect, but failed to stop the actions.
Arraignment is scheduled in Kenton Circuit Court Oct. 1, 2018, for all four individuals.
Beshear’s Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse; the Edgewood Police Department; and the Department for Community Based Services, Adult Protective Services, investigated this case. Medicaid Fraud and Abuse is prosecuting the case.
The Attorney General’s tip line for reporting allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation is 877-ABUSE-TIP (877-228-7384). Reports can be made to Adult Protective Services by calling 800-752-6200.
Complaints involving a nursing home can be made by contacting the Office of the Inspector General, who is responsible for licensing nursing homes, by calling 502-564-7963.
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