Failure to Ensure Timely Vendor Payments Resulting in Disruption of Resident Care Supplies
Penalty
Summary
The facility's governing body failed to ensure timely payment to supply vendors, resulting in disruptions to essential supplies for resident care. Specifically, the linen supply company de-installed linens from the facility due to an outstanding unpaid balance, after repeated attempts to collect payment and multiple service suspensions over the past year and a half. The hospital, which manages the nursing home and is responsible for vendor payments, was unresponsive to vendor communications, and staff within the nursing home assumed the hospital would handle such issues without direct follow-up. Additionally, the facility's pharmacy vendor reported a significant outstanding balance, with the last payment received several months prior and no further payments made for the current year. The pharmacy vendor indicated that continued nonpayment would result in the facility being placed on a Cash on Delivery (COD) status, and previous COD notices had only been resolved after direct intervention from hospital leadership. This pattern of delayed or missed payments extended to other critical supplies as well. During facility observations, it was noted that the storage area for adult briefs was depleted, with no 3XL briefs and only one pack of XL briefs available, despite residents requiring these sizes. The Housekeeping Supervisor confirmed the shortage and indicated that there may be some supplies in residents' rooms, but the central storage was insufficient. These events collectively demonstrate a failure by the governing body to maintain adequate supplies for resident care due to lapses in financial management and vendor relations.