Failure to Educate and Offer COVID-19 Vaccine to Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide education and offer the COVID-19 vaccine to a resident who had not previously received any COVID-19 immunizations. The resident, who had multiple diagnoses including dementia, malignant neoplasm of the breast, acute embolism and thrombosis of the right femoral vein, and heart disease, was admitted to the facility and as of the date of review, there was no documentation in the electronic medical record indicating that either the resident or their representative had been educated about or offered the COVID-19 vaccine. Interviews with facility staff revealed that responsibility for resident immunizations had recently transitioned from the previous DON to a new educator. The educator confirmed that he had assumed the role only a few weeks prior and that the facility follows CDC guidelines for immunizations. The DON acknowledged that residents should be educated and offered vaccines according to facility policy and CDC guidance, and confirmed that this had not occurred for the resident in question. The facility's policy requires that all eligible individuals be educated and offered the most recent COVID-19 vaccine, but this process was not documented or completed for the resident.