Failure to Offer and Document Pneumococcal Vaccinations per CDC Guidelines
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to offer, obtain informed declination, or secure physician-documented contraindication for pneumococcal vaccinations, including the PVC20, for five sampled residents. Review of the clinical medical records for these residents showed no evidence that the residents or their representatives received or signed a consent to receive or decline the pneumococcal vaccine. Additionally, none of the five residents had been offered or received the pneumococcal vaccine since their admission to the facility, as confirmed by their electronic health records. An administrative nurse confirmed that immunization status is assessed upon admission and that the Web IZ portal is used to check prior immunizations. The nurse also stated that consent forms are provided to residents or their representatives for signature. However, she acknowledged that due to workload and issues with insurance coverage for the vaccine, she had not completed the process for some residents. The facility's policy requires offering pneumococcal immunization in accordance with CDC guidelines, assessment upon admission, and documentation of consent or refusal, but these steps were not followed for the sampled residents.