Every finding on record at Centerwell Certified Healthcare Corporation Dba Centerwell Home Health

An on-site Recertification Survey initiated on 02/24/2025 and concluded on 02/27/2025, resulted in a finding of no deficiency citations respective to the Emergency Preparedness Program Condition of Participation under 42 CFR 484.102.

An on-site Recertification Survey initiated on 02/24/2025 and concluded on 02/27/2025, resulted in a finding of substantial compliance respective to the applicable Conditions of Participation (CoPs) under 42 CFR 484, Subparts A through C with the following standard-level deficiencies listed below.

Infection Prevention CFR(s): 484.70(a) Standard: Infection Prevention. The HHA must follow accepted standards of practice, including the use of standard precautions, to prevent the transmission of infections and communicable diseases. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on observation, record review, interview, and facility policy review, the agency failed to follow infection prevention standards of practice for 1 (Patient #4) of 7 patients reviewed for infection control. Specifically, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #1 placed her clinician bag directly on the patient’s nightstand with no barrier in place. This failure had the potential to transmit germs between patients’ homes. Findings included: An agency policy titled, “10-03 Patient Care: Standard Precautions,” revised 10/2024, indicated, “All Clinical Associates when performing work-related responsibilities will utilize standard precautions and instruct patients and/or caregivers in infection control precautions as appropriate.” The policy also specified, “Standard precautions are used to minimize and/or prevent exposure to blood, body fluids, excretions and secretions that are considered potentially infectious. Standard precautions include but may not be limited to:” “use of barriers (as appropriate)” and “clinician bag technique.” Patient #4’s “Home Health Certification and Plan of Care (POC),” dated 02/21/2025, revealed the agency admitted Patient #4 with diagnoses that included neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies (a type of dementia caused by protein build-up in the brain), and diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer (a condition where a person’s high levels of sugar in the blood caused wounds). During an observation conducted in Patient #4’s bedroom on 02/26/2025 at 9:00 AM, LPN #1 placed her clinician bag on the surface of Patient #4’s nightstand. During a concurrent interview and observation in Patient #4’s bedroom on 02/26/2025 at 9:48 AM, LPN #1 confirmed she had not placed a barrier between her clinician bag and the surface of Patient #4’s nightstand and stated the agency’s expectation was that she was not required to put a barrier under the bag because the bag was placed on a hard surface. During an interview conducted on 02/26/2025 at 11:10 AM, Registered Nurse (RN) #2 stated the agency’s expectation was that clinical staff were to place a barrier under their clinical bag in patients’ homes regardless of whether the surface was hard or soft. During an interview conducted on 02/26/2025 at 2:20 PM, Physical Therapist (PT) #3 stated the agency’s expectation was that there should be a barrier placed under the clinician bags regardless of the type of surface the bag had been placed on in the patient's home. During an interview conducted on 02/27/2025 at 12:00 PM, the Market Executive of Clinical Quality (MECQ) stated all clinician bags should be set on top of a barrier when a clinician entered a patient’s home and acknowledged the agency did not follow its policy when LPN #1 placed her clinician bag directly on Patient #4’s nightstand.