Signature Healthcare of Port Charlotte cited for deficiencies in 2019 by State of Florida
Port Charlotte nursing home, Signature Healthcare of Port Charlotte, was the subject of an inspection conducted by investigators with the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration during 2019.
Signature Healthcare of Port Charlotte is a 164-bed nursing home located at 4033 Beaver Lane, Port Charlotte, FL 33952. On December 4, 2019, the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration imposed a fine of $1,000.00 against the nursing home and its corporate license holder for failing to meet state and federal requirements under the law.
Signature Healthcare’s Port Charlotte nursing home cited for numerous quality of care concerns
An inspection which concluded at this Port Charlotte nursing home on September 19, 2019 raised many quality of care concerns. Florida officials cited Signature Healthcare of Port Charlotte for failing to meet the following requirements under state and federal law at that time:
Failing to provide adequate and appropriate healthcare
The right to receive adequate and appropriate health care and protective and support services, including social services; mental health services, if available; planned recreational activities; and therapeutic and rehabilitative services consistent with the resident care plan, with established and recognized practice standards within the community, and with rules as adopted by the agency.
Failing to ensure timely performance of assessments
§483.20 Resident Assessment The facility must conduct initially and periodically a comprehensive, accurate, standardized reproducible assessment of each resident’s functional capacity. §483.20(b) Comprehensive Assessments §483.20(b)(1) Resident Assessment Instrument. A facility must make a comprehensive assessment of a resident’s needs, strengths, goals, life history and preferences, using the resident assessment instrument (RAI) specified by CMS. The assessment must include at least the following: (i) Identification and demographic information (ii) Customary routine. (iii) Cognitive patterns. (iv) Communication. (v) Vision. (vi) Mood and behavior patterns. (vii) Psychological well-being. (viii) Physical functioning and structural problems. (ix) Continence. (x) Disease diagnosis and health conditions. (xi) Dental and nutritional status. (xii) Skin Conditions. (xiii) Activity pursuit. (xiv) Medications. (xv) Special treatments and procedures. (xvi) Discharge planning. (xvii) Documentation of summary information regarding the additional assessment performed on the care areas triggered by the completion of the Minimum Data Set (MDS). (xviii) Documentation of participation in assessment. The assessment process must include direct observation and communication with the resident, as well as communication with licensed and nonlicensed direct care staff members on all shifts. §483.20(b)(2) When required. Subject to the timeframes prescribed in §413.343(b) of this chapter, a facility must conduct a comprehensive assessment of a resident in accordance with the timeframes specified in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (iii) of this section. The timeframes prescribed in §413.343(b) of this chapter do not apply to CAHs. (i) Within 14 calendar days after admission, excluding readmissions in which there is no significant change in the resident’s physical or mental condition. (For purposes of this section, “readmission” means a return to the facility following a temporary absence for hospitalization or therapeutic leave.) (iii)Not less than once every 12 months.
Failing to develop and implement care plans
§483.21(b) Comprehensive Care Plans §483.21(b)(1) The facility must develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for each resident, consistent with the resident rights set forth at §483.10(c)(2) and §483.10(c)(3), that includes measurable objectives and timeframes to meet a resident’s medical, nursing, and mental and psychosocial needs that are identified in the comprehensive assessment. The comprehensive care plan must describe the following – (i) The services that are to be furnished to attain or maintain the resident’s highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being as required under §483.24, §483.25 or §483.40; and (ii) Any services that would otherwise be required under §483.24, §483.25 or §483.40 but are not provided due to the resident’s exercise of rights under §483.10, including the right to refuse treatment under §483.10(c)(6). (iii) Any specialized services or specialized rehabilitative services the nursing facility will provide as a result of PASARR recommendations. If a facility disagrees with the findings of the PASARR, it must indicate its rationale in the resident’s medical record. (iv)In consultation with the resident and the resident’s representative(s)- (A) The resident’s goals for admission and desired outcomes. (B) The resident’s preference and potential for future discharge. Facilities must document whether the resident’s desire to return to the community was assessed and any referrals to local contact agencies and/or other appropriate entities, for this purpose. (C) Discharge plans in the comprehensive care plan, as appropriate, in accordance with the requirements set forth in paragraph (c) of this section
Failing to maintain adequate infection prevention and control
§483.80 Infection Control The facility must establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections. §483.80(a) Infection prevention and control program. The facility must establish an infection prevention and control program (IPCP) that must include, at a minimum, the following elements: §483.80(a)(1) A system for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling infections and communicable diseases for all residents, staff, volunteers, visitors, and other individuals providing services under a contractual arrangement based upon the facility assessment conducted according to §483.70(e) and following accepted national standards; §483.80(a)(2) Written standards, policies, and procedures for the program, which must include, but are not limited to: (i) A system of surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they can spread to other persons in the facility; (ii) When and to whom possible incidents of communicable disease or infections should be reported; (iii) Standard and transmission-based precautions to be followed to prevent spread of infections; (iv)When and how isolation should be used for a resident; including but not limited to: (A) The type and duration of the isolation, depending upon the infectious agent or organism involved, and (B) A requirement that the isolation should be the least restrictive possible for the resident under the circumstances. (v) The circumstances under which the facility must prohibit employees with a communicable disease or infected skin lesions from direct contact with residents or their food, if direct contact will transmit the disease; and (vi)The hand hygiene procedures to be followed by staff involved in direct resident contact. §483.80(a)(4) A system for recording incidents identified under the facility’s IPCP and the corrective actions taken by the facility. §483.80(e) Linens. Personnel must handle, store, process, and transport linens so as to prevent the spread of infection. §483.80(f) Annual review. The facility will conduct an annual review of its IPCP and update their program, as necessary.
The complete results of the investigation concluded on September 19, 2019 may be reviewed here: https://tinyurl.com/svuerxk
Have concerns regarding the care of a loved one at Signature Healthcare of Port Charlotte or another nursing home?
If you have questions, concerns or complaints about the care someone is receiving at a local nursing home, you may call me for a free, confidential consultation at (941) 485-7600. We fight to hold bad nursing homes accountable and to improve the quality of resident care for all Floridians. James Edwin Keim, Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer.
