Every finding on record at Nursing Care - Home Health Agency, Inc.

An emergency preparedness survey was conducted at Kindred at Home from 10/11/21 to 10/13/21 as part of a recertification survey. The agency is found to be in substantial compliance with the Emergency Preparedness Medicare Conditions of Participation.

A recertification survey was conducted at Kindred at Home from 10/11/21 to 10/13/21. The agency provides skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medical social work services to Boone, Lincoln, Logan, and Mingo counties. The census at the time of the survey was two hundred twelve (212) and the unduplicated admissions for the past year were six hundred fifty-four (654). Thirteen (13) medical records were reviewed and five (5) home visits were made. One (1) standard level deficiency was cited at G 682.

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 and staff interview it was determined the agency failed to follow standard infection practices in three (3) of five (5) home visits observed (patients #7, 8, and 11). This failure has the potential to negatively impact the already immune compromised patients receiving the services of this agency. Findings include: 1. A home visit was made with patient #7 on 10/12/21 at 11:00 a.m. with Occupational Therapist (OT) #1. OT #1 laid a clean barrier and a dirty barrier down, placing the clean vital sign equipment on the clean barrier. After taking the patient's temperature, OT #1 laid the thermometer down on the dirty barrier, then picked up the blood pressure cuff and stethoscope and used it on patient #7. When OT #1 was finished with the blood pressure cuff and stethoscope, the equipment was returned to the clean barrier without being disinfected, contaminating the clean barrier and other clean equipment. 2. A home visit was made with patient #8 on 10/11/21 at 1:45 p.m. with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #1. LPN #1 laid down a clean barrier and set down the clean vital sign equipment. LPN #1 proceeded to take the vital signs of patient #8 and laid the contaminated equipment down beside the clean equipment, contaminating the clean equipment. 3. A home visit was made with patient #11 on 10/13/21 at 10:35 a.m. with Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) #1. During the visit, PTA #1 performed hand hygiene, laid clean and dirty barrier down and removed clean vital sign equipment from the bag. PTA #1 put gloves on and took the vital signs of patient #11. PTA #1 cleaned the equipment after use and laid down on the barrier and began the patient's exercises without performing hand hygiene and without changing the gloves that had cleaner on them. 4. An interview was conducted with the Branch Director on 10/13/21 at 1:10 p.m. The Branch Director concurred that infection control breaches had occurred during the home visits.