Failure to Offer and Document COVID-19 Vaccination for Eligible Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that COVID-19 immunizations were offered to a resident who was eligible for vaccination. The resident, who had Alzheimer's disease and was unable to complete a mental status assessment, had a durable power of attorney (DPOA) for medical decision making. The resident's records showed no documentation of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine during the current admission period. The Infection Preventionist/Registered Nurse (IPRN) reported attempting to contact the resident's DPOA by phone to obtain consent for vaccination but did not receive a response and had no documentation of these attempts. Additionally, the Regional Clinical Consultant (RCC) indicated that the facility should have consulted the Medical Director regarding the appropriateness of administering the COVID-19 vaccine, especially since the resident had previously received the vaccine before admission. The facility's policy required education and offering of the COVID-19 vaccine to residents and staff, but there was no evidence that these steps were completed for this resident, resulting in a failure to comply with the facility's own procedures.