Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, staff interview, record review and facility policy review, the facility failed to prevent the likelihood of the spread of infection as evidenced by failure to perform hand hygiene while passing meal trays and ice, inappropriate handling of medication during medication pass and failure to screen a vaccinated contract worker for COVID-19 signs and symptoms for two (2) of three (3) days of survey.
Findings include:
Record review of the facility policy, Handwashing dated June 1,2000 revealed, It is the policy of this facility that hand washing be regarded as the single most important means of preventing the spread of infections. Procedure: .2. Appropriate ten (10) to fifteen (15) second hand washing must be performed under the following conditions: f. Before touching, preparing, or serving food .
Hydration Pass
An observation, on 02/07/22 at 11:29 AM revealed Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) #1 scooped ice from a cooler in the hall, put it into a cup, dispensed some water into the cup and took it to the resident in room [ROOM NUMBER]B without performing hand hygiene. Observed CNA #1 leave room [ROOM NUMBER]B without performing hand hygiene and scoop ice from the cooler, dispense water into a cup and take it to the resident in room [ROOM NUMBER]B. Observed CNA #1 leave room [ROOM NUMBER]B without performing hand hygiene, scoop ice into a cup, dispense water into that cup and take it to the resident in room [ROOM NUMBER]B without performing hand hygiene.
An interview, on 2/7/22 at 11:35 AM with CNA #1 confirmed that she did not perform hand hygiene between the residents while passing ice water. CNA #1 stated, I guess I just got nervous. CNA #1 confirmed that she should have performed hand hygiene between the residents to prevent the spread of germs. CNA #1 revealed that she had been in-serviced on hand hygiene.
An interview, on 2/9/22 at 9:38 AM with the Director of Nurses (DON) confirmed that hand hygiene needs to be performed in between residents when passing out ice and water.
Record review of the facility in-service dated 11/18/21 and titled, Handwashing/Sanitizing Between Trays revealed it was attended by CNA #1.
Record review of CNA #1's CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Skills Competency Check Off List revealed that CNA #1 completed a satisfactory completion of handwashing skill on 11/20/21.
Meal Tray Pass
An observation on 2/7/2022 at 12:10 PM, revealed Nursing Assistant (NA) #3 was observed delivering lunch trays to the residents. NA #3 delivered trays to residents in room [ROOM NUMBER], 108, then delivered and set up trays to rooms [ROOM NUMBERS]. NA #3 delivered the tray to room [ROOM NUMBER], then delivered and set up trays to both residents in room [ROOM NUMBER]. Between each of these tray deliveries and set ups, NA #3 did not use hand hygiene.
An interview on 2/7/22 at 2:30 PM, with Nursing Assistant #3, revealed she did not perform hand hygiene between the residents while passing lunch trays on the 100 hall. She stated she should sanitized her hands between tray deliveries to residents to prevent the spread of germs. She revealed she had been in-serviced on hand hygiene and infection control.
Record review of the in-service log revealed NA #3 attended an Infection Control in-service titled Covid-19 Protocols, Infection Control on 11/15/2021.
An interview with the Administrator on 2/9/22 at 11:00 AM, confirmed the facility failed to provide sufficient infection control measures by the trays being passed without proper hand hygiene. She confirmed this could spread infection from one resident to another resident.
Medication Administration
Record review of facility policy titled, Medications, Oral, dated August 25, 2014, revealed, The purpose of this procedure is to provide guidelines for the safe administration of oral medications. The policy also revealed, For tablets or capsules from a bottle, pour the desired number into the bottle cap and transfer to the medication cup. Do not touch the medication with your hands. Return extra capsules/tablets to the bottle.
An observation on 2/8/22 at 8:40 AM, of medication administration by Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #1 revealed a concern with infection control. LPN #1 was preparing the oral medications for administration to Resident #13. Resident #13 received 12 different oral pill medications, six of these were in prepackaged, individualized medication cards from the pharmacy. The remaining six were from the individual bottles of stock medications on the medication cart. LPN #1 placed the individual medications from the pharmacy cards into the cup by pushing the medications directly from the card into the medication cup. Then, for each of the other six medications, LPN #1 opened the bottle and poured some of the pills into her ungloved hand, picked one up with her other ungloved hand, placed this one into resident's medication cup, then placed the remaining pills in her hand back into the medication bottle. This process was repeated for the six medications in the stock bottles.
An interview with LPN #1 on 2/8/22 at 4:15 PM, revealed that by pouring the medications in her ungloved hand, placing medication from her ungloved hand into the resident's medication cup, and returning the remaining pills back into the bottle, the medications could be contaminated and spread infection. She revealed she should have placed the medications in the lid and not touch the medications with her bare hands. She stated she had been in-serviced on infection control and handwashing and she was not following infection control guidelines in administering medications.
An interview on 2/9/22 at 11:00 AM, with the Administrator, confirmed medications should not be poured into a bare hand and placed in the resident's medicine cup and remaining pills should not be returned to the medication bottle. She confirmed the facility failed to use proper infection control measures that are needed to ensure that the risk of the spread of infection is decreased. She confirmed this practice could contaminate the medications and spread infection.
Record review of the in-service log revealed LPN #1 attended an Infection Control in-service titled Covid-19 Protocols, Infection Control on 11/15/2021.
Visitor Screening
Review of the facility protocol titled COVID 19 GUIDELINES revealed under Guidelines for Visitation that Medically necessary individuals should be permitted after meeting the testing requirements and being screened (regardless of vaccination and Visitation status).
An observation, on 2/7/22 at 3:30 PM, revealed a contract X-ray Technician entered the front entrance of the facility and was not screened for signs and symptoms of COVID or a body temperature.
An interview, on 2/7/22 at 3:40 pm with the Administrator confirmed that the contract X-ray Technician had not been screened when he entered the building. The administrator revealed that it is the policy of the facility that everyone must be screened when they enter the building to prevent the spread of COVID.
An interview, on 2/7/22 at 4:40 PM with the contract X-ray Technician revealed that a facility staff member let him in the front entrance of the facility. The contract x-ray technician confirmed he did not have his temperature obtained or get screened for COVID signs and symptoms when he entered the facility. The contract x-ray technician revealed he had no signs or symptoms of COVID, and he is fully vaccinated. Review of the vaccination record revealed COVID vaccination dates confirmed as: Moderna 12/28/20 and Moderna 01/25/21.