Centerwell Home Health

The Home Health Agency (HHA) failed to ensure Skilled Nurse (SN) visits were followed as indicated on the individualized written plan of care (POC, a document that includes patients’ needs, services and the frequency of these services according to a physician's order).

The agency failed to ensure the Plan of Care (POC) was followed for 3 of 4 sampled patients (Patient 1, Patient 2, and Patient 3) when, 1. For Patient 1 the agency did not provide education and instructions regarding swallowing precautions (safe swallowing practices helping to prevent food or…

The agency failed to ensure interdisciplinary case conferences (a conference involving all skilled professionals involved in a patient's care) were conducted according to the agency's policy and procedure for 3 of 4 sampled patients (Patient 1, Patient 2, and Patient 3).

The agency failed to communicate to the physician the need for Speech Therapy (ST, a specialist trained on identifying swallowing problems and teaching skills for safe swallowing) for one of 4 sampled patients (Patient 1) when the patient and her daughter requested ST consult but did not receive ST…