Nurse anesthetist steals narcotics from patients

A former employee of Greater Regional Health has been arrested and charged with eight felonies and an aggravated misdemeanor in regards to stealing narcotics while working in the capacity of his position as a nurse anesthetist.

Brian A. Gutmann, 47, of Creston, was taken into custody 1:40 p.m. Sept. 18, at the Union County Law Enforcement on a Union County warrant for six counts of unlawfully obtaining or attempting to obtain a prescription drug - controlled substance schedule I, II, III; two counts of fraudulent submission in support of a claim and one count of tampering with records.

According to State of Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit reports, on nine separate occasions between Dec. 8 and March 1, Gutmann pulled schedule II pain narcotics, including Morphine, Fentanyl and Dilaudid, under patients’ names for procedures.

Gutmann’s employment at the hospital ended in May.

In three of these instances, Gutmann administered a portion of the narcotics to patients and kept the rest of the vial for himself. On Dec. 14 and March 1, Gutmann pulled Fentanyl and Dilaudid under patients’ names for procedures and never administered any of the narcotics to the patients, keeping them for himself. The patients were billed for the full amount of medication, including the amounts taken by Gutmann.

On Feb. 7, Gutmann pulled Fentanyl and Dilaudid under a patient’s name who was having a procedure done, but Gutmann was not assigned to the patient or the procedure. Gutmann did not provide any care during the procedure and kept both narcotics for himself.

Gutmann documented administering these narcotics in official patient medical records in attempt to conceal that he had not given all of the drug, or, in some cases, any of the drug, and diverted them to himself.

A State of Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau report alleges on Dec. 8 and Feb. 7, Gutmann’s documentation caused medical billing to be sent to Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield for payment to an insurance policy. Gutmann knew the material facts documented were false and the claim was submitted with the intent to defraud the insurer.

“Greater Regional Health is aware of the charges,” GRH Director of Marketing Communications Kayla Hoffman said in a statement. “These are unfortunate actions of a former employee. As an organization, we cooperated with investigating agencies to ensure patient care and safety were never at risk. The agencies validated no patients were harmed or at risk from the findings of this investigation. Actions moving forward are under the direction of charging agencies.”

Gutmann was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting $72,000 cash or surety bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 24.