Denver North Care Center

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at Denver North Care Center, in the surveyor’s own words.

• Actual harm, isolatedF697Jun 23, 2021

  Based on record review and interviews the facility failed to provide effective pain management services to one (#52) of three out of 24 sample residents. Resident #52, with a diagnosis [MEDICAL RECORD OR PHYSICIAN ORDER] . The resident stated his pain was typically seven to nine out of 10 on the pain scale. Non-pharmacological interventions for pain were not administered to help alleviate his pain. The resident pain assessment completed 6/22/21 documented he had a decrease in physical activity and socialization attributed to his pain. Due to the facility failures of not managing the resident's pain, he said he did not want to get out of bed and his pain was worse when up in his wheelchair. Findings include: I. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Dec 18, 2025

  Based on observations and interviews, the facility failed to store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety in the main kitchen.Specifically, the facility failed to ensure:-Staff performed hand hygiene was conducted during dishwashing, and, -The food preparation area was clean and sanitary. Findings include: I. Failure to perform hand hygiene during dishwashingA. Professional referenceThe Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations (revised 3/16/24), was retrieved on 12/22/25. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Jan 9, 2024

  Based on observations, record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure food was stored, prepared and served under sanitary conditions in one kitchen. Specifically, the facility failed to ensure: -Cutting boards were free from deep scratches and stains; -Frozen food thawing process was followed; and, -Beard restraints were worn in kitchen areas while preparing food. Findings include: I. Cutting boards A. Professional reference According to the State Board of Health Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations (updated 1/1/19), page 132, retrieved 1/16/24 from https://cdphe.colorado.gov/environment/food-regulations, Cutting surfaces that are scratched and scored must be resurfaced so as to be easily cleaned, or be discarded when these surfaces can no longer be… […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF886Sep 15, 2022

  Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to test residents, facility staff, and individuals providing services under arrangement and volunteers, for COVID-19. This had the potential to affect all 77 residents residing in the facility at the time of the survey. Specifically, the facility failed to ensure: -Rapid point-of-care (POC) tests for COVID-19 were consistently conducted and documented on staff prior to the start of their shift, based on the facility's county positivity rate and outbreak status; and -Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was conducted on all staff based on the county positivity rate and outbreak status. Cross reference F888 (COVID-19 staff vaccination matrix) and F880 (Infection control). Findings include: I. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF761Dec 18, 2025

  Based on observations and interviews, the facility failed to remove medications and biologicals that were stored and labeled properly according to professional standards in two of two medication rooms, two of four medication carts and two of four vaccination refrigerators.Specifically, the facility failed to ensure expired medications were removed from the medication room, medication carts, vaccination refrigerator and medication refrigerator. Findings include:I. Professional referencesThe United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) Don't Be Tempted to Use ExpiredMedicines (revised 10/31/24), was retrieved on 12/29/25 from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines. […]