Life Care Center of Hilo

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at Life Care Center of Hilo, in the surveyor’s own words.

• Immediate jeopardy, isolatedF880May 22, 2023

  On survey entry, a request was made for a copy of the facility specific Infection Prevention Control Plan (IPCP) and surveillance policy within one hour. The surveillance policy was provided at the end of day three after a conference call with Corporate regarding an Immediate Jeopardy. The IPCP, review date 09/2022, was included with abatement documents on survey day four, 05/22/2023. Based on observations, interviews and document review, the facility failed to ensure staff were familiar with and aware the written facility specific IPCP and surveillance policy existed. […]

• Actual harm, isolatedF697Apr 1, 2026

  Based on interviews and record review, the facility failed to provide effective and timely pain management to a resident experiencing pain. Resident (R) 10 complained of pain 10 out of 10 (10/10 on the pain scale, indicating severe, intense agony) to the lower back after being in a wheelchair (w/c). The physician ordered an opioid medication at 01:47 PM, which was not administered until 09:00 PM, despite the resident's sustained pain level 8/10, which is severe. The delay in administration of an effective medication, the absence of non-pharmacological intervention, failure to seek higher level of care due to unrelieved pain caused R10 to experience unrelieved severe pain for 7.15 hours. As a result of this deficient practice, residents are at risk of physical harm. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF880Jun 3, 2022

  Based on observations, interviews, and record reviews, the facility failed to ensure infection control practices were implemented to prevent the development and transmission of COVID-19. As a result of this deficiency, residents are at an increased risk of exposure to COVID and could result in potential harm and/or death of a resident. Findings include: 1) On 06/01/22 at 11:49 AM, observed staff (S)1 providing care for a COVID-19 positive Resident (R)2. After providing care, S1 removed his/her personal protective equipment (PPE) and discarded the PPEs in a designated trash bin that was located at the foot of R2's bed (located at the far end of the room, near the window). R2's curtain was open and there were no physical barriers between R2 and S1. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF725Dec 1, 2023

  Based on observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to ensure sufficient nursing staff to assure residents attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being during meals times and during Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) for multiple residents on the second floor. Resident (R)203 reported having to wait up to an hour for staff to assist the resident to the bathroom due to insufficient staffing. An Anonymous Resident (AR) complained to Family Member (FM)1 about waiting for approximately 30 minutes for staff to answer the call light for assistance to the toilet, then staff rushing the resident off the toilet due to having to go and assist another resident, and staff not having enough time to assist the resident with meals due to… […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF887May 22, 2023

  Based on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to implement procedures to ensure that each staff member is offered the COVID -19 vaccine dose as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), unless medically contraindicated or has already been immunized. The facility failed to track staff COVID-19 vaccination status including information that was provided on the benefits and potential risks associated with the most current vaccine recommended by the CDC. The deficient practice has the potential to increase the risk for a COVID-19 outbreak in the facility. […]