Among other problems, a dead bug inside a nursing home in Kentucky resulted in a $38,925 fine being imposed for violating F-Tag F 584, which says that residents of nursing homes and other skilled nursing facilities (SNF’s) have the “right to a safe, clean comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.”
In a survey completed on 12/06/2019, the surveyor determined that the nursing home failed to ensure its resident environment was safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike. This decision was based on observations, interviews, and a review of the facility’s policy, which found that a dead bug in a resident’s room had not been removed for several days.
Other problems noted in the survey included an electrical outlet behind a resident’s bed which had exposed wiring; torn wallpaper; doors on a number of residents’ rooms that were gouged and had jagged edges; and broken paneling with jagged edges on the outer sliding door of a resident’s closet.
In California, there are numerous All Facilities Letters (AFL’s) which provide guidance to SNF’s with regard to proper policies and procedures for keeping nursing homes clean. For instance, AFL 20-14 provides guidance on environmental infection control. Although this AFL is designed to specifically address environmental infection control measures necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a dead bug that isn’t removed from a nursing home would certainly run afoul of this guidance, which is based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control.
Based on this example, a mistake as simple as failing to remove a dead bug can result in severe consequences, especially if it’s coupled with other problems such as those discovered in this Kentucky nursing home. That’s why it’s so crucial to stay on top of the ever-changing regulatory landscape governing nursing homes and other SNF’s. We here at Clearpol developed a software service called Policies.ai which is specifically designed to help SNF’s stay in compliance with the vast array of healthcare rules and regulations in order to avoid fines and other penalties. Check out our software here and see for yourself how easy it is to stay on top of regulatory compliance with Policies.ai.