Knox County Health Department Home Health Agency

The home health provider failed to ensure emergency preparedness (EP) training was completed on hire in three of three personnel records reviewed (Employees #1, #2, and #3).

The home health provider failed to ensure that wound measurements and assessments were completed in one of six records reviewed (Record/Patient #3).

The home health provider failed to ensure all staff had the Employee Disqualification List (EDL) checked prior to hire in one of three employee files reviewed (Employee #3).

The home health provider failed to ensure that the patients received the home health services that were written on their individualized plan of care when the patients did not receive visits according to the visit frequency as ordered on the plan of care in one of five full records reviewed…

The provider failed to ensure all staff had the Employee Disqualification List (EDL) checked prior to hire for two contracted staff of four employee files reviewed (Employee #1 and #2).

The agency failed to ensure that the patients received the home health services that were written on the individualized plan of care when the patients did not received visits according to the visit frequency ordered on the plan of care in one (Record/Patient #1) of five full record reviews…

The agency staff failed to follow accepted standards of practice for one (Record/Patient #2) of three patients observed during home visits.

The agency failed to update the written notice of patient rights to meet the requirements of the new federal home health regulations effective 01/13/2018 to include that the agency must provide the patient/representative, the notice of rights during the initial evaluation visit, in advance of…

The agency failed to update the written notice of patient rights to meet the requirements of the new federal home health regulations effective 01/13/2018 to include that the agency must provide written notice, to a patient-selected representative, of the patient's rights and the agency's transfer…

The agency failed to ensure the patient was advised orally and in writing of the extent to which payment for services may be expected from Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federally-funded aid program and the charges of services that may not be covered in two, (Record/Patient #1 and #2), of three…

The agency failed to ensure staff reviewed all of the medications the patients were currently using in order to identify any potential adverse effects and drug interactions in three (Record/Patient #1, #2, and #3) of three home visit observations.

The agency failed to ensure that each patient's written individualized plan of care (POC) included all the required elements in four (Record/Patient #1, #2, #3, and #5) of five full records reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure written instructions were provided to the patient/caregiver outlining the visit schedule, including the frequency of visits in three (Record/Patients #1, #2, and #3) of three home visit observations.

The agency failed to ensure written instructions were provided to the patient/caregiver outlining the patient medication schedule/instructions in one (Record/Patient #2) of three home visit observations.

The agency failed to provide the patient/caregiver with a copy of written instructions of any treatments being administered by the agency in two (Record/Patient #2 and #3) of three home visit observations.

The agency failed to ensure that the registered nurse followed the physician's orders as indicated on the patient's individualized plan of care related to wound care orders in one (Record/Patient #1) of one patient observed for wound care.

The agency failed to assure agency clinicians effectively communicated with all physicians or other health care practitioners related to the patient's current plan of care (POC) in, but not limited to, two (Record/Patient #2 and #5) of five full record reviews.

The agency failed to ensure a completed transfer summary was sent within two business days of an unplanned transfer to the receiving facility in one (Record/Patient #6) of two discharge records reviewed.