Southern Inyo Hospital D/P SNF

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at Southern Inyo Hospital D/P SNF, in the surveyor’s own words.

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF727Apr 29, 2026

  Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the services of a registered nurse (RN) were provided for at least eight consecutive hours a day, seven days a week, for the facility. This failure had the potential to result in delays in clinical assessment, changes in resident conditions not being identified timely, and increased risk for adverse outcomes due to lack of RN oversight.Findings: During an interview on April 27, 2026, at 8:23 AM, with Licensed Vocational Nurse 1 (LVN 1), LVN 1 stated there are times when an RN is not available. LVN 1 further stated there are about two or three full-time RN staff available overall in the facility. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF727Jul 12, 2024

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure a Registered Nurse (RN) was available onsite at least eight (8) hours a day, seven (7) days a week for all admitted residents from April 1, 2024, through July 11, 2024 when the facility did not have RN onsite for 17 days and had fewer RN hours than eight (8) hours requirement for three (3) days. This failure had a potential to negatively affect residents care from an oversight of RN which may increase risk of avoidable resident safety events such as medication errors or delayed in comprehensive assessment that could jeopardize residents' health, safety, and lead to actual harm. Findings: During an observation on July 11, 2024, from 8:00 AM, through 10:00 AM, there was no RN working in the unit. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Jul 12, 2024

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to protect residents from food contamination for a universe of 29 residents when one kitchen staff was not wearing a hair net during food preparation. This failure had the potential to contaminate food, equipment, and utensils. Findings: During a concurrent observation and interview on July 8, 2024, at 02:08 PM, in the kitchen, Kitchen Aide (KA) 1 was not wearing a hair net while preparing food. When pointing out the absence of a hair net on, she then walked to the kitchen entrance and put on a hair net. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812May 18, 2023

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure safe and sanitary food preparation and storage practices in the kitchen when: 1.There was no air gap (a separation between the water supply and potentially contaminated [dirty] water in a sink or other plumbing fixture) found at the food preparation sink. When installed and maintained properly, the air gap works to prevent drain water from backing up into the sink and possibly contaminating the area used for washing food.), which had the potential for back flow from the drain to contaminate the sink. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF689Apr 29, 2026

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure a safe environment and implement interventions to prevent accidents related to smoking for four of 12 sampled residents (Residents 1, 4, 11, and 29), when smoking materials were not maintained in accordance with the facility's policy and procedure (P&P). These failures had the potential to result in serious injury, including burns, fire hazards, or harm to residents, staff, and the facility environment. Findings: 1a. […]