Failure to Ensure Health Assessments for New Employees
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to comply with the regulation requiring a health care practitioner to determine that newly hired employees are free from communicable diseases. This deficiency was identified through a review of facility policy, personnel records, and staff interviews. Specifically, the personnel records of three employees—Housekeeping Staff Employee E1, Physical Therapist Employee E3, and Nurse Aide Employee E4—lacked documented evidence of such assessments prior to their employment. The facility's policy mandates that an employee's vaccination status, tuberculosis screening, and recent history of communicable diseases be assessed before or upon duty assignment. The personnel records revealed that Housekeeping Staff Employee E1 was hired in February 2025 and worked multiple days in February, March, and April without the required health assessment. Similarly, Physical Therapist Employee E3, hired in March 2025, and Nurse Aide Employee E4, hired in March 2025, also worked several days without documented health assessments. During an interview, Human Resources Employee E5 confirmed the facility's failure to ensure these assessments were conducted as required, leading to the identified deficiency.
Plan Of Correction
1. No residents experienced adverse effects. Housekeeping Staff Employee E1, Physical Therapist Employee E3, and Nurse Aide Employee E4 will have their physicals completed. 2. Physical assessment signed by a provider will be required during the pre-employment process to determine that staff are free from communicable diseases. 3. NHA to educate HR Director/designee on need for physical assessment signed by a provider during the pre-employment process to determine that staff are free from communicable diseases. 4. HR Director/designee to audit new employee orientation folders 1x/week for 4 weeks, then monthly x 2 months.