Interim Healthcare - Home Health

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to provide services as ordered per physician according to the Plan of Care (POC) for three of 18 sampled patients (Patient 1, Patient 6 and Patient 10), when: 1. Patient 1 had multiple missed visits that did not reflect the reason for the missed visits; 2.…

The home health agency failed to ensure standards of practice to prevent infections were followed for one of 18 patients (Patient 9) when Home Health Aide 1 (HHA 1) did not wear gloves while shaving Patient 9. This failure had the potential to result in transmission of infection and diseases among…

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to have evidence in the patient’s medical record the patient was initially consulted and consented to planned services and care for 10 of 18 sampled patients (Patient 1, Patient 2, Patient 8, Patient 10, Patient 11, Patient 12, Patient 13, Patient 15, Patient 16…

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to conduct an initial assessment for three of 18 sampled patients (Patient 8, Patient 17, and Patient 13) within 48 hours of the referral.

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to ensure a comprehensive medication review was conducted for two of 18 sampled patients (Patient 7 and Patient 11) when: 1. Patient 7's current medication record did not match the home medication; and, 2. Patient 11's current medication record did not match the…

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to complete a comprehensive assessment (Oasis Recertification: a mandatory follow-up comprehensive assessment completed every 60 days for a patient remaining on home health service) within the last five days of every 60 days of the start of care date for one of…

The home health agency failed to ensure the individualized plan of care (POC) developed in consultation with the agency staff included all pertinent diagnoses for one of 18 sampled patients (Patient 14).

The home health agency (HHA) failed to ensure the plan of care (POC) developed for two of 18 sampled patients (Patient 4 and Patient 9), included a physician order for home health aide (HHA) services for Patient 4, and a physician order for physical therapy for Patient 9. These failures resulted in…

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to ensure effective communication and coordination of care between the HHA staff and the physician for two of 18 sampled patients (Patient 1 and Patient 4), when: 1. Patient 1's physician was not notified of a skilled nursing missed visit, and 2. Patient 4's…

The home health agency (HHA) failed to provide services ordered by physician and as indicated in the plan of care (POC) for 5 of 18 sampled patients (Patient 2, Patient 3, Patient 5, Patient 11, and Patient 15).

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to ensure a completed discharge summary was sent to the patient's primary care provider who will be responsible for care after discharge from the HHA within five business days of the patient’s discharge, for two of 18 sampled patients (Patient 1 and Patient 2).

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to ensure the Plan of Care (POC) was followed for two of five sampled patients (Patient 2 and Patient 5) when Patient 2 and Patient 5's POCs were not followed and the MD (Medical Doctor) was not notified of Patient 2 and Patient 5's missed visits.

The facility failed to ensure rehabilitation therapy service was provided timely for one of three sampled patients (Patient 1) when Patient 1's initial assessment was not conducted within 48 hours of referral.

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to ensure physician was notified of wound changes for one of three sampled patients (Patient 1), when Patient 1 had increase in size and open areas of venous stasis ulcers (wound on leg caused by abnormal or damaged veins) of right lower leg.

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to confirm with the Family Member (FM) of one of three sampled patients (Patient 1) a request for discharge from home health services when the HHA was directed by the staff of Patient 1's board and care to discharge from the HHA.

The agency failed to follow infection control practices when Skilled Nurse 2 (SN 2) did not change gloves when performing wound care for one of 17 sampled patients (Patient 16).

The agency failed to ensure the initial assessment was conducted within 48 hours of referral as per their policy for 1 of 17 sampled patients (Patient 15).

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to accurately reconcile medications for two of seventeen (Patient 8 and Patient 3) sampled patients when the medication profiles did not correspond to medications being administered in the home.

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to notify the physician of missed visits for four of seventeen (Patient 7, Patient 4, Patient 13, and Patient 11) sampled patients.

The agency failed to provide treatments and services ordered by a physician and included in the Plan of Care (POC) for one of 17 sampled patients (Patient 5) when skilled nursing did not follow physician's order to assess patient's pain and perform patient teaching about medications.

The agency failed to ensure documentation was complete, accurate and recorded in a timely manner for 2 of 17 sampled patients (Patient 1 and Patient 15).

The agency failed to ensure medication profiles were reviewed when the medication profile was not updated for 1 of 17 sampled patients (Patient 9).

The agency failed to provide care in accordance with a plan of care (POC) for 4 of 17 sampled patients (Patient 2, Patient 5, Patient 7, Patient 16) when: 1. Physical Therapy (PT) visits were made without a physician's order for Patient 2; 2. A Master of Social Worker (MSW) evaluation was not…

The agency failed to provide treatments and services ordered by a physician and included in the Plan of Care (POC) for one of 17 sampled patients (Patient 4) when skilled nursing did not follow physician's order to assess patient's weight log every visit.