Neighbors Care Home Health Agency, an Amedisys Co

The home health agency (HHA) failed to ensure that Emergency Preparedness (EP) procedures were implemented in Lancaster and Cherokee counties where the HHA provides patient services.

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to ensure Emergency Preparedness (EP) policies and procedures for testing of the HHA's emergency plan were implemented in Chester, York, Lancaster, and Cherokee counties where the HHA provides patient services.

This requirement was NOT MET as evidenced by: Based on observations, record reviews, and staff interviews, the Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to follow physician orders regarding blood sugar results, weights, and wound care for 2 of 17 patient charts reviewed for care and services.

The Home Health Agency's Skilled Nurse (SN) failed to obtain physician orders prior to providing wound care treatment for 1 of 4 applicable patients.

This requirement is NOT MET as evidenced by: Based on observations, record reviews, and staff interviews, the Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to ensure physicians authenticated their orders in a timely manner for 1 of 17 sampled patients.

The Skilled Nurse (SN) failed to update the Home Health Agency's medication profile for 2 of 6 applicable patients (Patient #1 and #6) and failed to accurately update the clinical record for 2 of 17 patient charts reviewed for care and services.

The agency staff failed to document measurable goals for all goals listed on the Plan of Care (POC) in 16 out of 17 charts reviewed (Patient #1-#7 and #9-#17).

The home health agency failed to perform its annual update for its Emergency Preparedness Program.

The agency failed to provide documentation of a policy and procedure for volunteers in its emergency preparedness plan.

The home health agency failed to ensure the patient's plan of care developed by the Registered Nurse (RN) and approved by the physician was followed for missed or delayed visits and by failure to report patient weights for 5 of 17 patient records.

The home health agency's Speech Therapy (ST) failed to perform the patient's initial assessment within 48 hours of the referral date.

The home health agency failed to coordinate the patient care related to missed or delayed visits and by not reporting patient weights)as ordered by the physician for 5 of 17 patient records reviewed for care and services.