Failure to Designate Qualified Infection Preventionist
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to designate a qualified individual onsite to be responsible for implementing the infection prevention and control program. Review of the Infection Preventionist job description showed that the role requires planning, organizing, developing, coordinating, and directing the infection control program in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations. During staff interviews, it was revealed that a Licensed Practical Nurse was recently assigned to infection control, but the Interim DON had been acting as the Infection Control Nurse at the time of the survey. The DON confirmed that there was no qualified individual officially designated and present onsite to oversee infection prevention and control activities, as required by regulations.