Every finding on record at Newberry Family Health Center, PA

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, mask, eye protection, or face shield depending on anticipated exposure; safe handling of equipment in the patient’s care environment if it is likely to have been contaminated with body fluids; safe handling of soiled items in the patient’s care environment; other requirements of applicable state and federal law and regulation. This standard was not met as evidenced by document review, interview and observation. In 2 of 3 (67%) home visit observations revealed the agency did not ensure that staff followed the hand hygiene policy. Document 1: Agency policy, "Infection Control - Hand Hygiene,” stated in part, "Indications for hand hygiene is required, but not limited to the following home care patient activities: decontaminate hands before having direct contact with patients, after contact with non-intact skin, after contact with the patient’s skin (i.e. taking a pulse or blood pressure). Soap and Water technique, vigorously rub together all of the lathered surfaces for at least 15 seconds and use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.” Home Visit 1: During the home visit (Clinical Record 1) on 02/06/2024 with the hospice aide, the hospice aide was observed washing her hands with soap and water for less than 5 seconds, donning gloves, retrieving the wash basin, turning on the water faucet with the gloved hand, filling water basin, turning water faucet off with the gloved hand, placed the patient's hand in the water basin, adjusting the bed rail and bed remote, then began washing the patient. The hospice aide was not observed washing her hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds or turning off the water faucet with a paper towel. The hospice aide was not observed performing hand hygiene before having direct contact with the patient after touching objects in the patient’s environment. Home Visit 3: During the home visit (Clinical Record 3) on 02/07/2024 with the registered nurse, the registered nurse (clinical director), was observed holding the patient’s hand with her bare hands, taking the patient’s vital signs using the blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, and stethoscope, then donned gloves, removing a soiled wound dressing from the patient’s coccyx, measuring the wound with a Q-Tip applicator, and cleaning the wound with normal saline on gauze then placed a foam dressing over the wound. The registered nurse was not observed performing hand hygiene after contact with the patient’s skin after obtaining vitals or after contact with the non-intact skin (open coccyx wound) after removing soiled wound dressing before providing wound care. During an interview on 02/08/2024, the clinical director agreed that the staff did not follow the hand hygiene policy.