Failure to Conduct Timely Employee Registry Check
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its written policies and procedures for screening employees to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of residents, as well as the misappropriation of resident property. Specifically, the facility did not conduct a required verification check against the New York State Nurse Aide Registry for one of its employees, a Housekeeping Aide, prior to their employment. The policy in place required that all individuals hired undergo a review of qualifications and be checked against the registry upon hire. However, this procedure was not followed for Employee #3, who was hired and began working before the registry check was completed. Employee #3 was hired on August 14, 2024, and worked several shifts from August 15 to August 18, 2024, before the registry verification was conducted on August 19, 2024. The Human Resources Director, who was responsible for conducting these verifications, was out of the building when the employee attended orientation and did not complete the verification until returning on August 19. This oversight resulted in a failure to adhere to the facility's policy, as the employee worked without the necessary registry check being completed, which is a requirement under 10 NYCRR 415.4(b).
Plan Of Correction
Plan of Correction: Approved December 30, 2024 1. Employee #3 had nurse aide registry check completed by HR Director. The HR Director reviewed all employees for Nurse Aide Registry that had deficient practice of not having Nurse Aide Registry check completed prior to employment. Any deficient practices were corrected immediately by HR Director. 2. All residents are at risk for the deficient practices of new employees not having nurse aide registry check completed prior to employment. 3. Administrator reviewed policy and procedure for Abuse, Neglect and exploitation including process for New York State Nurse Aide registry verification. No changes were made. 4. The HR director was educated by Administrator on policy and procedure for Abuse, Neglect and exploitation including process for New York State Nurse Aide registry verification. 5. The Administrator will conduct weekly audits of new hires for 6 months and monthly for 6 months of all new hires including all new employees to ensure New York State Nurse Aide registry check is completed prior to hire. Any deficient practices will be corrected immediately and brought to QAPI for further review. Person Responsible: Administrator