Hiawatha Homecare

The home health agency (HHA) failed to meet the Condition of Participation: Patient Rights 484.50 was not met.

The agency failed to comprehensively investigate an allegation of mental, physical, and verbal abuse for 1 of 1 patient (P1) reviewed who had video evidence that registered nurse (RN)-A yelled profane language and physically hit P1. P1's POC dated 1/28/23, indicated P1 had chronic respiratory…

The agency failed to ensure the patient was free from abuse for 1 of 3 patient's reviewed (P1), when a Registered Nurse (RN)-A was recorded on video abusing the client, including forcefully pushing P1's head into the pillow, tossing P1’s across his body, slamming ventilator tubing against P1’s…

The agency failed to ensure 3 of 3 patients (P1, P2 and P3) reviewed were offered to participate in the plan of care (POC) following the 60-day assessments performed by the agency registered nurses.

The agency failed to conduct a comprehensive assessment that accurately reflected the patient's status for 1 of 3 patients (P1) reviewed when agency staff were setting-up P1’s liquid medications in syringes for the family to administered without a physician order or specific nursing instructions…

The facility failed to develop procedures for emerging infectious disease (EIDs) such as Influenza, Ebola, Zika Virus and others.

The facility failed to develop and maintain an emergency preparedness plan that was based on an all-hazards approach specific to the geographic location of the agency and encompasses potential hazards.

The facility failed to address in their emergency preparedness plan (EPP) the patient/client population, including, but not limited to the type of services the agency has the ability to provide in an emergency, and continuity of operations, including delegations of authority and succession plans.

The home health agency (HHA) failed to conduct a comprehensive all-hazards community based risk assessment to determine potential disasters which could impact the HHA, and develop corresponding policies and procedures to ensure patient safety and quality care during a disaster.

The agency failed to develop and implement emergency preparedness policies and procedures that included a system to address what action would be required due to the inability to make contact with staff or patients and reporting capabilities to the local and State emergency officials during an…

The facility failed to develop and implement emergency preparedness policies and procedures which addressed a system of medical documentation that preserves client information, protects confidentiality of client information, and secures and maintains availability of records.

The facility failed to ensure their emergency preparedness policies and procedures addressed the use of volunteers in an emergency, or emergency staffing strategies.

The home health agency (HHA) failed to develop a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan (EPP) which included a communication plan to ensure quality patient care and safety during a potential disaster.

The agency's communication plan failed to include names and contact information for current staff.

The agency failed to ensure their communication plan included all required contact information for the Federal and tribal emergency preparedness staff.

The agency failed to ensure their emergency preparedness plan (EPP) addressed primary and alternative means of communication during an emergency with Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local emergency management agencies.

The agency failed to ensure their communication plan included a method for sharing client medical information as necessary, with other health providers to maintain continuity of care in the event of an evacuation, and to release client information as permitted.

The agency failed to ensure their communication plan included a means of providing information about the facility's needs, and ability to provide assistance, to the authority having jurisdiction, the Incident Command Center, or designee.

The agency failed to develop and maintain an emergency preparedness training and testing program based on their emergency plan and risk assessment.

The agency failed to ensure they conducted exercises to test their emergency plan at least annually, including participation in a full scale exercises.

The agency failed to ensure appropriate infection control prevention measures for glove use and hand hygiene, were followed for 1 of 1 patient (P1) observed to have suprapubic and gastrostomy site care during a home visit.

The agency failed to ensure a comprehensive drug regimen review was conducted to ensure the accuracy of all medications/dosages for 1 of 3 patients (P1) and failed to ensure medications were not expired for 1 of 3 patients (P1) whose medications were reviewed during home visits.

The facility failed to ensure pneumococcal and influenza policy and procedures had been developed, including if the agency offered the vaccinations and if not offered, how the patients would receive the vaccination if indicated.