Every finding on record at Continuum Care, Inc

Based on observation, policy review, and interview, the agency failed to ensure staff completed hand hygiene in between glove changes. The observations are for two of two patients. The failure to follow standard precaution principles and complete hand hygiene during patient care had the potential to increase the risk of transmission of infections and communicable diseases for all patients receiving services from the Hospice Care Agency. --- Findings include: 1. A home visit observation of Registered Nurse (RN)1 for Patient (P1) on 06/08/23 at 1:31 PM, revealed the following: RN1 did not perform handwashing after entering P1's home. RN1 checked P1's temperature, blood pressure and used the stethoscope to listen to heart sounds. RN1 took out cleans gloves from her uniform pocket, then assisted the home health aide with P1's bed bath and removed soiled dressings from P1's left foot. RN1 removed gloves and did not perform hand hygiene. RN1 removed clean gloves from her uniform pocket, touched P1's bedrails, then used the same gloves to apply lotion and clean dressings to P1's sacral wound. She removed gloves and did not perform hand hygiene. RN1 removed gloves from her uniform pocket, picked up a normal saline bottle, removed soiled dressings on lateral side of P1's right foot. She used the same gloves to open clean dressing supplies, removed gloves, and did not perform hand hygiene. 2. A home observation of Register Nurse (RN) 2 and Hospice Aid (HA) on 06/09/23 for patient 2 (P2) at 11:10 AM, revealed the following: HA did not perform hand hygiene before the start of patient care, proceeded to remove P2s blanket and touched the patient. She did not perform hand hygiene after removing gloves. RN2 and HA provided bed bath care on P2. They removed their gloves and did not perform hand hygiene. Review of an undated agency policy titled, Review of agency Infection control policy # PC.125 titled, ";INFECTION CONTROL-HAND HYGIENE" states: 1. Hospice staff must wash hands: a. Before touching a patient. Before performing clean/aseptic procedure. After performing tasks that involve risk or exposure to body fluids. After touching a patient. Before and after wearing gloves. After any activity involving physical contact with a patients immediate environment. 2. ";Hand must be washed regardless of whether or not gloves are used." During an interview on 06/09/23 at 2:10 PM, the Administrator stated: it is the agency expectation that all agency clinical staff must complete hand hygiene before and after removing gloves as well as before putting on clean gloves. She further explained; all staff had completed hand hygiene and standard precautions training. Training records revealed the following: Staff had all required trainings.