Compassionate Home Health Services

The Agency failed to ensure the comprehensive assessment was updated and revised in 1 (P-1) of 1 record in which the patient was transferred to an inpatient facility related to elevated blood glucose levels, from a total of 7 sampled records reviewed, resulting in lack of information in determining…

The agency failed to ensure 1 of 1 contract (Contractor-1) met the requirements of section 1861(w) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(w)), resulting in the potential to adversely affect the finances of all patients that receive contracted services.

The agency failed to ensure that at least one qualifying service was provided directly by agency employees for 1 of 1 (Contractor-1) contract reviewed, resulting in the agency contracting for all patient services.

The agency failed to ensure patients received written notice of the agency's transfer and discharge policies, resulting in a lack of information regarding discharge and transfer rights for all 53 patients admitted to the agency in the past 12 months.

The agency failed to ensure patients were informed of the Administrator's business address, resulting in the potential for patient complaints or concerns to go unaddressed which could negatively affect the quality of care for the agency's 23 current patients.

The agency failed to ensure the patient participated in care planning and was informed of the time and frequency of visits for 1 of 7 (P-7) records reviewed, resulting in anxiety and frustration for this patient.

The Agency failed to ensure the patient received proper written Notice of Medicare Provider Non-Coverage in advance of the Agency terminating on-going care for 1 (P-1) of 2 discharged records, resulting in the patient being denied the right to appeal the decision to end Medicare covered services.

The agency failed to advise patients of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of Federally funded and State funded entities that serve the areas where the patients reside, resulting in a lack of information regarding available resources which has the potential to negatively affect the quality…

The agency failed to ensure patients were informed of their right to access auxiliary aids and language services and how to access these services, resulting in a lack of information and resources for all patients with disabilities or limited English proficiency.

The agency failed to ensure the initial assessment visit was conducted within 48 hours of referral for 2 of 7 (P#'s 6, 1) records reviewed, resulting in a delay in determining the immediate care and support needs for these patients.

The Agency failed to ensure the comprehensive assessment accurately reflected the patient's condition at the start of care for 1 (P-1) of 2 discharged records, from a total of 7 sampled records reviewed, resulting in the potential for unidentified continuing health needs and poor patient outcomes.

The Agency failed to ensure the comprehensive assessment included a review of all medications to determine any adverse effects and duplicate drug therapy in 1 (P-5) record, from a total of 7 sampled records reviewed, resulting in the potential for harmful medication side effects or interactions.

The Agency failed to ensure the Comprehensive Assessment was updated and completed at the time of discharge from the agency's services in 1 (P-1) of 2 discharged records, from a total of 7 sampled records reviewed, resulting in no indication of the patient’s progression towards their identified…

The agency failed to ensure the plan of care included appropriate interventions with reportable parameters, safety measures and objectively measurable goals specific to the individualized needs of the patient in 6 (P-1, P-3, P-4, P-5, P-6, P-7) records, from a total of 7 sampled records reviewed…

The agency failed to ensure physician orders were signed for 2 of 3 (P-4, P-6) discharge records reviewed, resulting in a lack of physician authentication for patient care orders for this patient.

The agency failed to ensure written information was provided to patients that detailed the name and contact information for the agency's clinical manager, resulting in a lack of information to enable the agency's 23 current patients to contact the clinical manager.

The Agency failed to ensure the Registered Nurse performed baseline assessments and re-assessments of the patient's health status and needs in 1 (P-1) record of a patient with a diagnosis of Hypertensive Heart Disease, from a total of 7 sampled records reviewed, resulting in the potential for…

The agency failed to ensure the medical social worker and skilled nursing provided services as ordered by the physician in the plan of care for 1 (P-5) record, from a total of 7 sampled records reviewed, resulting in the potential for poor patient outcomes for this patient.

The Agency failed to ensure the clinical record was completed and included detailed Skilled Nursing notes for 1 (P-1) of 1 record of a patient who was transferred to the hospital due to elevated blood glucose levels, from a total of 7 sampled records reviewed, resulting in the potential for…

The agency failed to ensure a contract for services indicated the agency maintains overall responsibility for the services provided under arrangement for 1 of 1 (Contractor-1) contract reviewed, resulting in a lack of overall responsibility by the agency for the services provided under arrangement.

The Agency failed to ensure the transfer/discharge summaries were complete, provided the patient's current health status at the time of transfer/discharge, progress toward goals, and forwarded to the receiving facility and the Physician in 2 (P-1, P-4) of 2 records in which the patient was…

The home health agency failed to ensure the home health aide was qualified to provide home health aide service (Refer to G 752), the agency failed to ensure the home health aide competency evaluation was completed by observing the aide's performance of the tasks with a patient prior to being deemed…

The Home Health Agency failed to ensure the Governing Body assumed full legal authority and responsibility for the agency's overall management and operation, the provision of all home health services, fiscal operations, review of the agency's budget and it's operational plans and it's quality…

The home health agency failed to ensure the home health aide was qualified to provide home health aide service for 1 of 2 aides (HHA #2) providing service, for a potential of substandard aide services.

The agency failed to ensure the home health aide competency evaluation was completed by observing the aide's performance of the tasks with a patient prior to being deemed competent to perform aide services for 2 of 2 aides (Aide #1 and #2), from a total sample of 2 aides personnel files reviewed…

The home health agency failed to ensure the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment certificate was kept current for the years 2019 and 2020, for a potential of the inability to meet the testing needs of all the patients requiring self-testing.

The Home Health Agency failed to ensure the Governing Body assumed full legal authority and responsibility for the agency's overall management and operation, the provision of all home health services, fiscal operations, review of the agency's budget and it's operational plans and it's quality…

The home health agency failed to inform patients of the contact information for the administrator, including the administrator's name, business address, and business phone number in order to receive complaints, resulting in a potential for unaddressed patient concerns or complaints for all 31…

The agency failed to inform the patient/caregiver before care was initiated of the extent to which payment for home health agency services may be expected from Medicare, Medicaid or other private insurance sources for 7 of 7 patients (M.R. #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) receiving services from the…

The home health agency failed to advise their patients of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the federally and state funded entities that serve the counties in which each patient resides, resulting in the potential for unmet patient care needs for all 31 patients currently serviced by…

The registered nurse failed to supervise the home health aides' services no less frequently than every 14 days for 2 of 4 records reviewed (MR. #3, and 5) with home health aide services, for a potential of unmet and unsafe patient care.

The Home Health Agency failed to ensure the Governing Body appointed the administrator's position, for a potential of lack in management for all the staff.

The Administrator and the Governing Body failed to identify in writing an alternate administrator and an alternate Clinical Manager, for a potential of a lack of oversight and management of patient care services and the staff.