Western States Homehealth Care Agency, Inc

The agency staff failed to ensure care followed the written plan of care (POC) for three of seven patients (Patient 1, 10, and 11).

The skilled nurse (SN) failed to maintain aseptic technique (free from contamination, to prevent spread of infection), while providing wound care for one of 17 sample patients.

The physical therapist (PT) and occupational therapist (OT) failed to perform the initial rehabilitation assessment within 48 hours for one out of seven sample patients (Patient 3).

The home health agency (HHA) failed to maintain the current medication profiles for two of 17 patients (Patients 2 and 10).

The home health agency (HHA) failed to develop and implement an individualized plan of care (POC) for three of three patients receiving anticoagulant (blood thinners-to prevent and treat blood clots) medications in a sample of seven (Patients 10, 11 and 13).

The agency staff failed to provide health care instructions or education to patient/caregiver for two of 10 sample patients (Patient 1 and Patient 10).

The agency staff failed to ensure that the care provided followed the written plan of care for one of 17 sampled patients (Patient 12) who was diabetic.

The home health agency (HHA) staff failed to review all the medications and update the medication profile with currently used medications for two of 17 sample patients (Patient 2 and 9).

The agency staff failed to ensure the plan of care (POC) developed for one of 17 sampled patients (Patients 9) included monitoring of the dialysis access sites as a safety measure to protect against injury.

The skilled nurses failed to administer drugs and treatments as ordered by the physician for two of 17 sample patients (Patients 3 and 4).

The HHA skilled nurse (SN) failed to provide patient teaching regarding wound management in Spanish language for one out of 17 sample patients (Patient 1).