Every finding on record at Garrett County Health Department

A recertification survey of Garrett County Health Department agency was conducted August 14 - September 8, 2023. After the review of the agency's emergency preparedness program and plan, the agency was found to be in compliance with all Conditions of Participation and related standards found at 42 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 484.102.

A standard home health agency re-certification survey was conducted at Garrett County Health Department agency on August 14 - September 8, 2023. The survey included the following: a review of clinical records; a review of the complaint/incident reports; a review of on-call documentation; a review of admission documentation including patient bill of rights; a review of personnel files including professional licenses and expiration dates; a review of Quality Assurance Project Plan and Reports (QAPI) & Potentially Avoidable Event Report; a review of the organizational chart; a review of the CLIA waiver, and interviews with the agency's administrative. The agency's emergency preparedness program and plan were reviewed. A total of thirteen randomly selected patient records were reviewed during the survey. The scope of services included the following: Skilled Nursing Services - Thirteen Physical Therapy Services - Twelve Occupational Therapy Services - Eight Medical Social Worker - 0 Home Health Aide Services - Two Speech-Language Services - One No home visit observations were conducted during the survey. Findings in this report were based on data present in the clinical record at the time of the reviews. The agency's administrative and clinical staff were kept informed of the survey findings as the survey progressed. The agency's staff were given the opportunity to present information relative to the findings during the course of the survey. The exit conference was conducted with agency personnel on September 8, 2023. The findings of the Medicare re-certification survey were reviewed; a copy of the patient identification key-code and a signed plan of correction verification form was provided to the agency's administrator.

Conformance with physician orders CFR(s): 484.60(b) Standard: Conformance with physician or allowed practitioner orders. This STANDARD is not met as evidenced by: Based on the review of patient records and interview with agency staff, physician orders were not followed for 1 out of 13 patients reviewed. Failure to follow all treatment orders placed the patient at risk for inadequate health care. Patient: #1 Diabetes is a chronic (long-term) condition, in which a high level of glucose (sugar) is present in the bloodstream. Diabetes affects the circulation to your feet. People with diabetes have a higher risk of lower limb amputation. However, comprehensive management and regular foot examinations can prevent this. On 8/14/2023 during the review of the patient’s record the physician ordered that the agency teach and instruct the patient importance of daily foot inspections. The visit notes on 8/4/2023 (see note page 31 of 32) and 8/8/2023 (see note page 14 of 18) noted that instruction of importance of diabetic foot care and daily foot inspections was not performed. When asked the agency staff were unable to provide documentation of the ordered interventions being completed.