Help at Home Inc

The agency failed to ensure field staff followed appropriate infection control practices per agency policy while providing patient care in 2 of 3 home health aide (HHA) home visits conducted.

The agency failed to ensure discharge planning and documentation included involving the physician, patient, and patient family in 1 of 6 active record reviews.

The agency failed to document the existence of a patient's complaint, nor a resolution, for 1 of 1 known undocumented complaint investigated.

The agency failed to protect the patient's right to be free of neglect while receiving care for 1 of 1 clinical record reviewed for a complaint of suspected neglect during home health services with the potential to impact all 651 active patients.

The agency failed to ensure home health aide services were provided by qualified individuals who successfully completed an approved training and competency program and a competency evaluation, including 75 hours of qualified classroom and supervised practical training (G760), the required minimum…

The agency failed to evidence a written examination was completed in 1 of 5 active Home Health Aides (HHA) records reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure all Home Health Aides (HHA) successfully completed 75-hours of classroom and supervised practical training in a setting or practicum laboratory where the HHA provided services to an individual under the direct supervision of a qualified nurse, for 4 of 5 active HHA…

The agency failed to ensure all qualified Home Health Aides (HHA) received a minimum of 16 hours of classroom training preceding 16 hours of supervised practical training as part of the 75-hours of Home Health Aide training, for 4 of 5 Home Health Aide files reviewed for HHA qualifications.

The agency failed to maintain documentation of Home Health Aide (HHA) training for all home health aides including, but not limited to 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training with a minimum of 16 hours of supervised practical training for 1 of 1 home health aide records reviewed for…

The Administrator failed to demonstrate incident reviews and personnel qualifications were maintained for 1 of 1 home health agency.

The Administrator failed to ensure the agency hired qualified Home Health Aides, for 5 of 5 active Home Health Aide files reviewed for aide qualifications.

The agency failed to ensure all home health aides successfully completed a training and competency evaluation program that included at least 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training, a competency only program, based on previously completing the required training and competency, a…

The agency failed to ensure it maintained documentation of Home Health Aide (HHA or hha) training for all home health aides including, but not limited to, 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training with a minimum of 16 hours classroom training and a minimum of 16 hours of supervised…

The agency failed to ensure it hired qualified home health aides who were competent to provide safe, effective, and efficient care, for 2 of 2 Home Health Aides observed during competency evaluations.

The agency failed to ensure a home health aide provided services according to the aide plan of care for 1 of 2 home health aide observations.

The agency failed to ensure the home health aide only applied non-prescription topical creams for 1 of 2 home health aide observations.

The agency failed to ensure all patients had a written copy of their rights (See G412); failed to ensure all patients had the name & contact information of the agency administrator (See G414), failed to ensure patients had the right to make complaints to the agency and have them investigated by the…

The agency failed to ensure they implemented, maintained, and evaluated a Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program that showed measurable improvement in outcomes; failed to collect, tabulate, analyze, and trend relevant data to include complaints and adverse events; failed to…

The home health agency failed to create, maintain, and implement written policies and procedures which were compliant with requirements for CMS (Center for Medicare & Medicaid) vaccine mandate issued on January 14, 2022. The cumulative effect of these systemic problems resulted in the home health…

The agency failed to ensure all home health aides had completed an establishment of skills competency program (See G768;) failed to ensure all home health aide’s had proper documentation of their competencies in their personnel files (See G772;) and failed to ensure all aides had a plan of care…

The Governing Body failed to ensure essential administrative and supervisory functions were not delegated to an outside entity which precluded the administrator from being effective in supervising and managing the home health agency; the administrator failed to be responsible for all day-to-day…

The agency failed to provide the patient and/or the caregiver written instructions outlining the visit schedule, including frequency of visits by the home health agency, medication schedule, and instructions, any treatments, and other pertinent instructions related to the patient’s care need, name…

The agency failed to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure all agency staff is in compliance with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services COVID-19 vaccination mandate for 1 of 1 agency reviewed with the potential to affect all 1,931 active patients of the agency.

The agency failed to ensure all home health aides successfully completed their competency evaluation program for 6 of 6 home health aide full personnel records reviewed (HHA BBB, HHA DDD, HHA EEE, HHA FFF, HHA R, and HHA GGG.) Findings include: HHA R’s, hire date 12/01/2020 complete personnel…

The agency failed to ensure all home health aides successfully completed their competency evaluation program for 6 of 6 home health aide full personnel records reviewed (HHA BBB, HHA DDD, HHA EEE, HHA FFF, HHA R, and HHA GGG.) Findings include: 1. Review of a document, last revised 1/4/2022, titled…

The agency failed to ensure the home health aide had a plan of care created by a registered nurse instructing each home health aide on what tasks to complete in the home for 7 of 7 home visits.

The agency failed to ensure the parent location provided direct control and supervision over all of its branches for 1 of 1 agencies reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure all documents were properly authenticated with a date and time for 1 of 1 agency reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure a patient's clinical records would be made available to the patient, free of charge, upon request at the next home visit, or within 4 business days (whichever came first) for 1 of 1 home visits (Patient #17).

The agency failed to evidence patient consent was obtained prior to providing care, failed to have documentation evidencing the patients and/or power of attorneys received notice of their patient rights and responsibilities, and the agencies copies of the agencies discharge and transfer for…

The agency failed to ensure patients had the correct contact information for the agency administrator in order to make complaints to the home health agency for 1 of 1 agency reviewed with the potential to affect all 1,931 patients.

The agency failed to evidence patient consent was obtained prior to having furnished patient care, failed to have documentation evidencing the patients and/or power of attorneys received notice of their patient rights for 9 of 22 Clinical Records Reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure patients had the ability to make complaints to the home health agency for 1 of 1 agency reviewed with the potential to affect all 1,931 patients.

The agency failed to ensure patients received all services ordered in the plan of care for 4 of 12 active records reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure it provided all patients with the correct name, address and telephone number of the Quality Improvement Organization for 1 of 1 home visit records reviewed (Patient #17).

The agency failed to have all patient complaint's investigated with documented resolution and notification to the patient within the home health agency, for 1 of 1 complaints reviewed.

The agency failed to maintain an updated list of all medications their patients were prescribed for 4 of 7 home visits.

The agency failed to provide the patient written information regarding the frequency of visits by personnel of the home health agency for 7 of 7 home visit patients reviewed.

The agency failed to provide written updated medication instructions to the patient and/or caregiver for 7 of 7 home visit patients reviewed.

The home health agency failed to ensure all patients had the name and contact information of the clinical manager, and in 1 of 1 home visits observed (Patients 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 27).

The agency failed to ensure all home health aide personnel files contained documentation identifying what measures/steps were used to verify an employee was competent for specific tasks and failed to document which skills were performed on a patient versus a pseudo patient for 5 of 5 home health…

The agency failed to provide the names of all managing employees of the agency for 1 of 1 agency reviewed.

The administrator failed to be responsible for all day-to-day operations for 1 of 1 agency reviewed.

The Governing Body failed to ensure the clinical manager was available during all operating hours for 1 of 1 home health agency reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure all staff met all the requirements for qualification as an agency home health aide (HHA) for 5 of 5 home health aide personnel records reviewed (HHA BBB, HHA DDD, HHA EEE, HHA FFF, and HHA GGG.) Findings include: 1. A document, last revised 1/4/2022, titled “Competency…

The administrator failed to provide direct support and administrative control over all 8 of its branches reporting to the parent agency, for 1 of 1 agency reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure the patient’s discharge/transfer summary was sent to the primary care practitioner who would be responsible for providing care and services to the patient after discharge for 2 of 5 closed Records Reviewed.

Patient's safety will be enhanced through the home care service as evidenced by no injuries from falls within certification period of time." The agency failed to ensure an individualized plan of care that identifies patient-specific measurable outcomes and goals.

The agency failed to use standard precautions to prevent the transmission of infections and communicable diseases for 3 of 7 home visits conducted.

The agency failed to evidence the comprehensive assessments provided were complete and accurately reflected the patient's status, and all the patient's current health, psychosocial and cognitive status in 5 of 13 active records reviewed.

A review of the recertification assessment dated 05/04/2021, failed to evidence patient strengths, goals, and care preferences.

The Plan of Care failed to evidence diabetic foot care and physician call parameters with blood sugars and vital signs.

The agency failed to ensure the RN updated the comprehensive assessment in August 2018 when it was discovered when a patient had a significant change in functional mobility for 1 of 1 active clinical records reviewed of a patient having a significant change between certification periods in a sample…

The RN (Registered Nurse) failed to update the HHA (home health aide) assignment sheet to reflect changes in safe transfer due to a decline in the patient's condition (Patient #7) for 1 of 11 clinical records reviewed.

The registered nurse failed to complete the comprehensive assessment to accurately reflect the patient's current psychosocial status upon admission in 1 of 8 active patient records reviewed in a sample of 11. (Patient # 6) Findings include: An agency policy titled, "Initial Assessments…

The registered nurse failed to identify and document intervention of a patient with schizoprhrenia for 1 of 8 active clinical records reviewed in a sample of 11. (Patient # 6) Findings include: An agency policy titled, "Initial Assessments/ Comprehensive Assessment was reviewed and stated, "…

The agency failed to ensure the plan of care included all pertinent diagnosis, the patient's mental and psychosocial status, patient-specific goals for 1 of 8 active clinical records reviewed in a sample of 11. (Patient #6) Findings Included: An agency document titled, "Job Description: Registered…

The agency failed to ensure the plan of care was updated to include the equipment required, rehabilitation needs, functional limitations, and safety measure to protect against injury in 1 of 1 records reviewed of a patient who had a significant change in functional status between certification…

The agency failed to ensure the skilled nurse communicated with the physician caring for the patient's mental health diagnosis in a sample of 1 of 8 active clinical records reviewed in a sample of 11. (Patient # 6) Findings Include: An agency document titled, "Coordination of Patient Care" was…

The agency failed to coordinate care with the area agency on aging, the patient's emergency contact, the mental health clinic, and mental health physician for (Patient # 6) in a sample of 1 of 11 clinical records reviewed.

The Registered Nurse/ Case Manager failed to ensure the plan of care was revised to include all pertinent diagnosis, the patient's mental and psychosocial status, patient-specific goals for 1 of 8 active records reviewed (Patient #6) and failed to include the equipment required, rehabilitation…

The registered nurse failed to communicate with the physician caring for a patient's mental health diagnosis (Patient # 6) in a sample of 1 of 11 clinical records reviewed.

The clinical manager failed to ensure the RN/ Case Manager completed the comprehensive assessment to accurately reflect the patient's current psychosocial status for 1 of 8 active records reviewed (Patient # 6) and failed to ensure the RN updated the comprehensive assessment in August 2018 when it…