Every finding on record at Caresouth Hospice, LLC

It is required that the hospice follows accepted standards of practice to prevent the transmission of infections and communicable disease, including the use of standard precautions, such as hand hygiene, use of gloves, and safe handling of soiled items in the patient’s care environment. This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review, document review, interview, and observation. Agency policy #I02 "Hand Hygiene" stated, in part: "4.4. At a minimum, personnel will perform hand hygiene in the following instances... After any patient contact or contact with the patient's immediate environment... Before and after any glove use... Before handling items in the clean section of the bag... After any contact with patient excretions (feces, urine) or secretions (from wounds, nasopharynx, trachea, skin infections, etc.) or with articles/surfaces contaminated by secretions or excretions." In 1 of 3 (33%) home visits observed, the agency did not ensure that personnel followed accepted standard precautions, including hand hygiene, use of gloves, and safe handling of soiled items in the patient’s care environment. HOME VISIT 2/CLINICAL RECORD 2: This patient elected the hospice benefit on 08/01/2025 with a terminal illness of Alzheimer's Disease. During a home visit with the Hospice Aide (HA) [Personnel Record 2] on 09/10/2025, the HA was observed providing a bed bath for the patient. The HA washed the patient's perineal area with a soapy washcloth and rinsed with another washcloth. The HA then requested that the husband change the water in the basins. The HA held onto the washcloth used to rinse the perineal area until the patient's husband returned with fresh water. The HA placed the washcloth (used to rinse the perineal area) into the fresh water. The HA did not change gloves or sanitize their hands after cleansing the patient's perineal area. The HA then applied soap to the patient's back and used the same washcloth (used to rinse the perineal area) to rinse the patient's back. The HA dried the patient and reached into their bag, which contained the patient's lotions and creams, without changing gloves or sanitizing hands. During an interview on 09/10/2025, the Administrator and the Branch Director stated that the Hospice Aide did not follow agency policy, and an in-service would be held the next day to re-educate staff on agency policy regarding hand hygiene and infection control practices.