Failure to Timely Enter Isolation Order and Incomplete Influenza Surveillance During Outbreak
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to timely enter an order for isolation for a resident who had been diagnosed with influenza. The resident was admitted and later readmitted with diagnoses including influenza, anxiety, and depression. After returning from the hospital, the resident's physician orders did not include an order for isolation or droplet precautions on the days immediately following readmission, despite a recent positive flu test. This omission was confirmed through review of clinical records and staff interviews. Additionally, the facility did not have a surveillance plan in place to track and monitor residents who tested negative for influenza during an outbreak over a two-month period. The facility's line listing for respiratory illnesses only included residents who tested positive, and failed to document those who tested negative. Staff interviews confirmed that negative results were not being tracked as required by the facility's outbreak toolkit and policies.