Failure to Conduct Pre-Employment TB Screening
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement pre-employment screening procedures for Tuberculosis (TB) for three newly hired employees, as required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. The facility's policy mandates that all employees undergo screening for latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis disease using a tuberculosis skin test or interferon gamma release test, along with symptom screening, prior to employment. However, the personnel records for Housekeeping Staff Employee E1, Occupational Therapist Employee E2, and Physical Therapist Employee E3 did not include evidence of such screenings. Housekeeping Staff Employee E1 was hired on February 13, 2025, and worked multiple days in February, March, and April without documented TB screening. Similarly, Occupational Therapist Employee E2, hired on March 3, 2025, and Physical Therapist Employee E3, hired on March 31, 2025, also worked several days in March and April without documented pre-employment TB screenings. During an interview, Human Resources Employee E5 confirmed the facility's failure to conduct the required TB pre-employment screenings for these employees.
Plan Of Correction
1. No residents experienced adverse effects. Housekeeping Staff Employee E1, Occupational Therapist Employee E2, and Physical Therapist Employee E3 will have their TB testing completed. 2. Two-step TB test administered and signed by licensed nursing staff 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 two-step TB test administered and signed by licensed nursing staff 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.