Logo Image
|Articles|July 26, 2000

Nurse scarcity at center of $2.7 million settlement

Shortages expected to increase

Becky Hartman rushed her mother, Shirley Keck, to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan., in February 1998. Hartman claims her mother required constant medical supervision at the time, but didn't receive it. That evening, her mother slipped into a coma and today suffers from brain damage and partial paralysis.

A suit filed on her behalf alleges inadequate nurse staffing levels resulting from cost concerns; Wesley Medical Center has agreed to a $2.7 million settlement. Center executives did not discuss the suit, but indicate area hospitals are experiencing nurse shortages. As the federal government expects nurse demand to outpace supply in 10 years, suits such as Keck's may increase.

Related to this article

View more
Water (Adobe Stock 456102510 by stockphoto-graf)
Where to Begin With ST108: Water Testing and Implementation Readiness
Understanding current water quality is a starting point for ST108 implementation. John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERIS, spoke about his HSPA presentation on assessing readiness, distinguishing system qualification from routine testing, and understanding where water samples should be collected.
Read more
Image of Pathogens flying (Adobe Stock weerasak)
How 3 Decades of SHEA Presidents Shaped the Science and Soul of Infection Prevention
Behind every landmark in infection prevention, from antimicrobial stewardship guidelines to the COVID-19 town halls that reached flight attendants and teachers, is a generation of physician-scientists who led SHEA through crises, organizational change, and scientific breakthroughs. Infection Control Today traces 30 years of SHEA presidents and the lasting mark they left on the field.
Read more
AORN26 New Orleans 2026 (Adobe Stock)
How Can OR and Sterile Processing Teams Improve Collaboration and Instrument Readiness?
Missing instruments and processing delays can strain OR–SPD relationships. At AORN 2026, John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERIS, discusses understanding root causes, exploring off-site reprocessing for ambulatory surgical centers, and using hands-on simulation to help surgical teams see sterile processing from a different perspective.
Read more