Failure to Maintain Safe Transportation Van for Resident Travel
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure its transportation van was properly maintained and safe for resident transport, resulting in use of a vehicle with non-functioning headlights and broken windshield wipers during resident trips after dark and in the rain. The transportation driver reported that when he started employment in early November 2025, the van’s headlights were already not working properly and that he had been instructed to drive with the bright lights on because the regular headlights were very dim. He described a late appointment in November and a subsequent nighttime hospital transport around Christmas, both over an hour away, during which he and the Maintenance Director drove in the dark with improperly functioning headlights and nearly struck three deer. The driver stated the van had almost 300,000 miles and dashboard warning lights that remained illuminated, and that he continued to drive the van but did not want to drive it after dark. For a later appointment involving one resident (R3), the driver transported the resident and the resident’s daughter more than an hour away and returned in the dark while it was raining, using the same van with non-functioning headlights and broken windshield wipers. The driver reported having to drive approximately 40 miles per hour on the interstate due to these conditions and described the trip as very scary for both himself and the resident’s daughter. A CNA confirmed that upon return from this van ride, the resident and the daughter were very upset, and the daughter was crying. The Maintenance Director acknowledged that the transport van’s headlights were burnt out, stated he had been notified after the daughter complained, and indicated he had attempted but was unable to replace the headlights himself. He also could not provide maintenance records for the van. The facility’s grievance tracking logs documented issues with the headlights but did not include a resolution date or follow-up notification.
We Help Long-Term Care Teams Stay Survey-Ready
We process and analyze inspection reports and plan of correction using AI to extract insights and trends so providers can improve care quality and stay ahead of compliance risks.