First Choice Home Health

The home health agency (HHA) failed to fully implement, maintain and document an emergency preparedness (EP) program.

The home health agency (HHA) failed to maintain a HHA-wide, data-driven quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) program.

The home health agency (HHA) failed to fully implement, maintain, and document an infection control (IC) program.

The home health agency (HHA) failed to provide necessary oversight and supervision of the HHA.

The home health agency (HHA) did not ensure individual emergency plans (IEPs) were developed for the HHA's patients during a natural or man-made disaster or emergency.

An interview was conducted with the HHA human resources director at 11:18 AM on 9/30/2020. She stated she did not know that EP training was required for new employees.

The home health agency (HHA) did not ensure the integrated emergency preparedness (EP) program demonstrated: that each separate facility actively participated in the development of the program; the program was developed and maintained in a manner that took into account each separately certified…

The home health agency (HHA) did not ensure each patient had an individualized plan of care (POC) for 1 of 9 sampled patients.

The home health agency (HHA) did not provide care in accordance with physician orders for 1 of 9 sampled patients.

The hospice governing body (GB) did not assume full legal authority and responsibility for the management of the hospice services and its fiscal operations.

The home health agency (HHA) did not ensure that patients received all services outlined in their plan of care (POC).

The home health agency (HHA) did not have written policies and procedures on the acceptance, processing, review and resolution of patient complaints.

The agency did not assess patient's immunization status according to agency policy and procedure for 9 of 9 sample patients.

The home health agency (HHA) did not promptly alert the physician to any changes in the patient's condition or needs that suggested that outcomes were not being achieved and/or that the plan of care should be altered for 1 of 9 sampled patients.

The home health agency (HHA) did not ensure the HHA had written agreements with an organization or with an individual who had contracted to furnish services to the HHA's patients.

The agency did not ensure staff followed accepted standards of practice to prevent transmission of infections and communicable diseases.

The agency did not provide skilled professional services by health care professionals who meet the appropriate qualifications.

The home health agency (HHA) did not ensure individual emergency plan's (IEP) were developed for the HHA's patients during a natural or man-made disaster.

The home health agency (HHA) did not develop and maintan an emergency prepardness training and testing program that was based on the emergency plan or risk assessment for 11 of 11 employee records.

For 1 of 12 sample residents, that the facility skilled nursing staff did not provide care and services in accordance with the physician orders.

The agency staff did not follow accepted standards of practice including the use of standard precautions, to prevent the transmission of infections while providing care for 2 of 12 patients who had a surveyor observed home visit.

The home health agency (HHA) did not ensure the agency provided infection control education to caregivers for 11 of 11 sample employee files.

The home health agency (HHA) did not ensure all patients' individualized plans of care (IPOC) contained all required elements.

The agency did not ensure the clinical record was updated appropriately.