Failure to Complete Required Nurse Aide Registry Check for Contract Occupational Therapist
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow its Abuse Screening policy, dated March 2022, which required that all potential employees be screened to rule out a history of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment, including checking appropriate licensing registries and specifically checking the Nurse Aide Registry prior to employment for all facility employees. Record review showed that an occupational therapist was hired on 05/20/24, but her personnel file did not contain documentation that a Massachusetts Nurse Aide Registry background check had been completed before hire. During a telephone interview on 02/09/26, the DON stated that this occupational therapist was a contracted employee and acknowledged that a Massachusetts Nurse Aide Registry background check had not been conducted per the facility contract prior to hire, despite the facility’s policy that all employees, regardless of position, must have this check completed before employment. This deficiency centers on the facility’s inaction in obtaining and documenting the required Nurse Aide Registry background check for the occupational therapist prior to her start date, contrary to its written abuse prohibition and screening procedures.
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