New Horizons Home Health Services

The agency failed to ensure proper infection control practices related to bag technique and clean and dirty areas of a barrier for 1 of 3 home observations of SN care (Patient #3).

The agency failed to identify the method used to evaluate HHA skills competency for 2 of 4 HHA personnel records reviewed (HHA 1 and 2).

The agency failed to include standard POC service frequency ranges for 1 of 1 patient with a home visit observation of HHA services (Patient #4).

The agency failed to ensure the comprehensive assessment was updated and revised to include wound measurements in 1 of 3 active clinical records reviewed with wounds (Patient #3).

The agency failed to ensure staff used proper hand hygiene (handwashing or use of alcohol-based hand rub) and bag technique to prevent the spread of infection in 1 of 2 home health aide (HHA) home observations, HHA 3, with the potential to affect all patients in which HHA 3 provided direct care.

The agency’s home health aide (HHA) training program failed to include training regarding adequate nutrition and fluid intake, and maintenance of a clean, safe, and healthy environment with the potential to harm all patients receiving HHA services, for 1 of 1 agency.

The agency failed to ensure patient's clinical records would be made available to the patient, free of charge, upon request, at the next home visit or within 4 business days (whichever came first) for 1 of 1 agency.

The agency failed to ensure it provided all patients with the name, address, and telephone number of the QIO (Quality Improvement Organization that manages all beneficiary complaints and quality of care reviews) for 1 of 1 agency, with the potential to affect all patients of the agency.

The home health agency failed to ensure the plan of care included the correct route of administration of medications for 1 of 3 active clinical records reviewed with home visits (Patient #1).

The home health agency failed to ensure the plan of care was established by the physician in 1 out 5 active clinical records reviewed, out of 8 total clinical records reviewed.

The home health agency failed to ensure all records were authenticated and dated in 1 of 5 active clinical records, out of a total of 8 clinical records reviewed.

The agency failed to ensure a direct, hands-on comprehensive assessment was completed by the skilled nurse within 5 days in 1 of 3 discharge records reviewed, out of a total 8 clinical records reviewed.

The home health agency failed to ensure the plan of care medications were complete accurate and included indications for as needed medications in 2 of 5 active clinical records reviewed, out of a total of 8 clinical records reviewed.

The home health agency failed to promptly alert the physician for the need to alter the medical plan of care in 1 of 5 active patients, out of a total of 8 clinical records reviewed.

The home health agency failed to ensure they coordinated care with other health care providers that provided care to agency patients in and 1 of 1 record reviewed of patients receiving care by other agencies, out of a total of 8 clinical records reviewed.

The home health agency failed to follow the plan of care for 1 of 4 active records receiving home health aide services out of a total of 8 records reviewed.

Staff phone numbers were present on the emergency contact list for 1 of 1 agency.

The agency failed to ensure evidence of the contribution of all skilled professional staff for their input to the quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) program for 1 of 1 agency.

The agency failed to ensure all staff participated in ongoing in-service training.

The Administrator failed to ensure the ADON (Alternate Director of Nursing) completed in-services and education as required by the agency for 1 of 1 agency.