SALYERSVILLE, Ky. — The physician who served Salyersville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for decades and the facility's former administrator have filed a lawsuit alleging they were improperly terminated after raising concerns about resident care and operational practices.
Court records show that a civil complaint was filed May 19 in Magoffin County Circuit Court on behalf of Dr. Charles Hardin and former administrator Joshua Calhoun. The lawsuit names Salyersville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and several related companies and individuals as defendants.
According to the complaint, Dr. Hardin worked with the facility for approximately four decades and was serving as medical director at the time his employment ended in 2025. Calhoun served as administrator from April 2019 until his departure in May 2025.
The lawsuit alleges that both men expressed concerns earlier this year regarding patient admissions, staffing levels, and the availability of nursing and support services. The complaint further claims those concerns were reported both internally and to outside agencies.
The plaintiffs contend their dismissals were connected to those complaints and their refusal to participate in practices they believed violated applicable laws and regulations.
Dr. Hardin also alleges that his contractual agreement with the facility was improperly terminated. The lawsuit further claims he was prevented from continuing care for his patients and denied access to patient records after his dismissal.
Among the allegations included in the complaint are claims of retaliation, breach of contract, wrongful discharge, interference with business relationships, negligence, emotional distress, and requests for punitive damages. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for lost income, damages, legal costs, and other relief to be determined by the court. They have also requested a jury trial.
As of this writing, no trial date has been scheduled.
The lawsuit follows increased scrutiny of the nursing home after state inspection reports drew attention to a series of care-related concerns that were highlighted in recent media coverage.
Inspection findings from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services identified multiple deficiencies, including allegations that incidents between residents were not properly reported, requests for assistance were not always answered promptly, significant weight changes among residents were not consistently monitored, and pressure ulcers were not adequately prevented or treated. Some of those findings occurred during the same general timeframe referenced in the lawsuit.
The facility and the other defendants named in the complaint have not publicly responded to the allegations.
Subsequent follow-up inspections conducted in late 2025 and again in 2026 reportedly found that corrective measures had been implemented and that the facility had returned to substantial compliance with state requirements.
The nursing home has also faced additional civil litigation in recent years. Public reports indicate multiple lawsuits have been filed by residents' families since 2021 alleging various forms of inadequate care, including claims involving pressure injuries, infections, nutritional concerns, unexplained injuries, and deaths.
The Morehead Minute will continue to monitor both the lawsuit and any additional developments involving the facility.
If you missed the previous article on this story, you can view it here:
Eastern Kentucky Nursing Home Under Investigation Following Serious State Findings