The former medical director of an Ames health spa is facing sanctions from a second state licensing board.
In January 2025, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy charged advanced registered nurse practitioner Antoinette Thompson of Pleasant Hill with failing to maintain a separate registration for each business that makes use of controlled substances; committing acts that would render her Controlled Substances Act registration inconsistent with the public interest; obtaining, possessing or administering controlled substances without lawful authority; distribution of drugs for illegal purposes; failing to comply with federal laws and regulations related to the storage of controlled substances, and failing to immediately notify the board of any theft or significant losses.
Court records indicate Thompson served as the medical director and nurse for the Live Hydration Spa in Ames until she was terminated when the business closed in September 2024.
Notice of Live Hydration Spa’s closure was given on Sept. 5, 2024. A flyer was taped to the door at 620 Lincoln Way, Suite 3, saying the decision was difficult but “necessary to ensure the safety of clients” and to “uphold the brand’s integrity.”
“We understand that you may have received inaccurate information from a former employee of Live Hydration Spa Ames, and we apologize for not being able to prevent this,” the notice read. “We hope you understand that emotions can run high in such situations, leading to misleading or incorrect communications.”
The Board of Pharmacy alleged its charges were based on complaints that Thompson had prescribed controlled substances using the wrong CSA registration, used a CSA registration to a specific business after she had left employment there, and had written prescriptions for patients by providing her own phone number and address as that of the patients.
The board also alleged, without explaining or elaborating, that Thompson “filled prescriptions under patients’ names for which were subsequently used as office stock supply to be used for other patients.”
To resolve the matter, Thompson and the board recently agreed to a settlement that calls for the indefinite suspension of her CSA registration.
Board of Nursing suspends Thompson’s license
In 2025, the Iowa Board of Nursing charged Thompson with failing to evaluate, document or report the status of a patient; committing an act that might adversely affect a patient’s welfare; misappropriating medications or supplies of a patient; being involved in the unauthorized manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance; prescribing, dispensing or distributing drugs in an unsafe manner; prescribing, dispensing or distributing drugs without accurately documenting the act or without evaluating the patient; willful or repeated failure to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety, and failure to query and reviewing the Prescription Monitoring Program database prior to prescribing or dispensing of an opioid.
In April 2026, the Board of Nursing and Thompson agreed to a settlement that has resulted in the suspension of her nursing license for a minimum of one year.
Thompson fired from Live Hydration Spa, opened nearby business
According to a civil court filing by Live Hydration, Thompson’s termination was based on her “actions resulting in imminent danger to patient health and safety.” The company also alleged Thompson violated her franchise agreement with Live Hydration by opening a competing business, “Thr’iv,” that offered IV vitamin therapy, injections, hormone replacement therapy and Botox treatments.
Thompson was fired two days before Live Hydration closed, according to an injunction petition filed by Live Hydration in Story County.
The case was dismissed on June 16, 2025.
The court determined that Live Hydration “failed to state facts and information” in its petition. The “Thr’iv” business was not owned by Thompson and was an independent and unrelated party. Live Hydration, as a Nebraska limited liability company and franchisor, is an “unregistered foreign company,” the motion to dimiss said, that cannot maintain any action against Thompson or Thr’iv.
Thompson has denied all of the company’s allegations, and is currently suing Live Hydration for breach of contract and defamation, alleging the company tried to “starve” her franchise and mount a hostile takeover of the Ames location — charges the company denies.
A trial is scheduled for Dec. 15, 2026.
Ames Tribune reporter Celia Brocker contributed to this story.
Find this story at Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: kobradovich@iowacapitaldispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Former medical director of Ames health spa faces sanctions, suspension
Reporting by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch / Ames Tribune
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