Every finding on record at Ardent Home Care Inc

An unannounced Complaint survey #2023001154 was commenced on 01/24/2023 and concluded on 01/25/2023 at Ardent Home Care Inc, Home Health Agency provider. The provider was not in compliance with 42 CFR, Part 484 Subpart A-C, Conditions of Participation for Home Health Agencies.

Administrator must: CFR(s): 484.105(b)(1) Standard: Administrator. The administrator must: This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on observation, interview and record review, the Home Health Agency (HHA) provider failed to have a qualified Administrator appointed by the Governing Body and in charge of day-to-day operations, an Alternate Administrator, or to have an Administrator or pre-designated person available during operating hours. The findings include: Observation and interview upon arrival to the HHA provider's office on 01/24/23 at 10:00 AM, reveals men who denied being employed by the HHA provider, were observed removing furnishings from the HHA's office and denied that HHA staff were present. During telephone interview on 01/24/23 at 10:24 AM, Office Manager B, who stated she is an Office Manager and not a nurse or Administrator, reported the HHA provider underwent an abrupt change of management on 01/17/23 and removed the previous Administrator from her position. During an interview with the Vice-President on 01/24/23 at 11:22 AM, she reported the majority of shareholders changed the Board of Directors, replacing the previous Administrator who was on the Board of Director's with herself, effective 01/16/23 and removed the previous Administrator from employment effective 01/17/23; that the Board of Directors hired a management company for Office Managers A and B to take over operations effective 01/17/23, although she could not answer which person is the Administrator; that clinical records and electronic media were since moved temporarily to a storage unit; and that she herself, and not the Office Managers, had access to some electronic records. During interview on 01/24/23 at 12:28 PM, the Director of Nursing reported she accepted that position and signed documents on 01/24/23, expected access to records the following day, and was unable to name or confirm existence of an Administrator and/or Alternate Administrator but named Office Managers A and B as partners in the management company. During interview on 01/24/23 beginning at 1:03 PM, Office Manager A reported she and her partner, Office Manager B were brought in to "clean things up" and make sure patients are taken care of; that the HHA provider is looking for a new Administrator but there is currently no Administrator or Alternate Administrator; that she could not provide access to records or an active patient census that day; and until they go through the records the next day, they did not know which patients were active and inactive.

Ensure that HHA employs qualified personnel CFR(s): 484.105(b)(1)(iv) (iv) Ensure that the HHA employs qualified personnel, including assuring the development of personnel qualifications and policies. This ELEMENT is not met as evidenced by: Based on record review and interview, the Home Health Agency (HHA) provider failed to ensure the CEO (Staff I), Financial Officer (Staff H), and the 2 Office Managers placed in charge of daily operations (Staff A and B), completed background screenings as required by the state. Review of the provider's "Annual Report" in Sunbiz, Florida's website for the Division of Corporations, filed 01/03/23, documents Staff I was the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and does not include Staff H as an Officer/Director. A search for Staff I's first and last name in the AHCA background screening clearinghouse on 01/24/23 revealed no results for that name. Review of the provider's "Amended Annual Report" in Sunbiz, filed 01/18/23, documents Staff H was added as the VP (Vice-President) and Treasurer and no longer documents Staff I as an Officer/Director. A search for Staff H's first and last name in the AHCA background screening clearinghouse on 01/24/23 revealed no results for that name. During telephonic interview on 01/24/23 beginning at 11:22 AM, Staff H stated she became the Vice-President/Treasurer and took over finances for the company on 01/17/23, including responsibility for paying bills, attorneys and staff. During this interview, Staff H reported recent leadership changes and that she brought in Staff A and B, who are part of a management company, to run day to day operations. A search for Staff A and B's names in the AHCA background screening clearinghouse on 01/25/23 revealed no results. During interview on 01/25/23 beginning at 4:19 PM Office Managers, Staff A and B both denied being background screened in Florida because they said they were contracted on an "emergency basis" to assist the previously inactive shareholders who decided to take over operations of the company effective 01/17/23.