Essentia Health Deer River Home Care

The home health agency failed to meet the Condition of Participation: Emergency Preparedness, 42 CFR § 484.102 at E0001. The agency failed to have an Emergency Preparedness program.

The home health agency failed to meet the Condition of Participation for Organization and administration of services, 42 CFR § 484.105 at G0940. The agency had skilled nursing services available and lacked at least one additional therapeutic service available for current and future patients the…

The facility failed to ensure compliance with all applicable Federal, State and local emergency preparedness requirements.

The home health agency (HHA) failed to conduct a comprehensive all-hazards community-based risk assessment to determine potential disasters which could impact the HHA and develop corresponding policies and procedures to ensure patient safety and quality care during a disaster.

The agency failed to develop and maintain an emergency preparedness training and testing program based on the emergency plan, risk assessment, policies and procedures and an appropriate communication plan.

The agency failed to provide skilled nursing services and at least one other therapeutic at time of survey affecting one of one patient (P1) and any future admissions.

The agency failed to ensure the physician orders were followed for 3 of 7 patients (P1, P3, and P5), who had services ordered, but the service had not been provided, and the physician had not been notified the services were not provided.

The agency failed to ensure 1 of 7 patients (P4) was informed and consented to services or care being provided, including any ongoing changes in services.

The agency failed to ensure each patient had an initial assessment visit within 48 hours of the referral date for 1 of 7 patients (P7) reviewed, in the sample.

The agency failed to ensure that a comprehensive assessment was updated and revised, including the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) data within 48 hours of return from a hospital for 1 of 7 patients (P6) in the sample, who had been hospitalized.

The agency failed to ensure the plan of care (POC) included a description of the advanced directives for 2 of 7 patients (P1, P3), whose records were reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure all patient orders were recorded in the plan of care (POC) for 2 of 7 patients (P1 and P3) who were reviewed for home care services.

The agency failed to ensure drugs, services and treatments were administered only as ordered by a physician for 1 of 7 patients (P5) who were reviewed for home care services.

The agency failed to ensure medication setup was provided as specified in the plan of care (POC) for 1 of 3 patients (P3) observed for skilled nurse visits (SNV) in the home.

The agency failed to ensure all field heath care workers (HCWs) used proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), based on the current Federal and State government guidelines related to COVID-19. These practices had the potential to affect all 42 patients who received services from the agency.

The agency failed to notify the physician of missed visits for 5 of 8 patients (P4, P5, P3, P1, P8) identified during record review.

The agency failed to ensure each patient had an initial assessment visit within 48 hours of the referral date for 3 of 8 patients (P4, P5, P1) reviewed, in the sample.

The agency failed to ensure supervisory visits of home health aides (HHAs) were completed every 14 days by a registered nurse for 4 of 8 patients (P2, P5, P4, P8) who received skilled services.