Failure to Maintain Employee Qualification and Reference Documentation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to comply with state regulations requiring the maintenance of complete information regarding employees' past employment and qualifications. During an unannounced onsite visit related to an abuse allegation, it was discovered that the facility did not have records of past employment history, references, or qualifications for certain employees, including a certified nurse assistant (CNA) who had been employed for over 20 years. Interviews with the Director of Nursing, Human Resources staff, and the HR Manager revealed that reference checks were not consistently performed or documented, and there was no written policy mandating such checks. The transition from paper to electronic records in 2018 further contributed to the lack of available documentation for long-term employees. A resident who was admitted with a diagnosis of skin cancer expressed concerns about the CNA in question. The facility was unable to provide any policy or procedure regarding employment verification or reference checks when requested by surveyors. Staff interviews indicated that background and reference checks were only completed if specifically requested by managers, and there was no standardized process in place to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for employee qualification documentation.