Uncontrolled After-Hours Access to Facility
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment by not controlling access to the building after hours. During an observation at 3:45 a.m., there were no staff at the front entrance or in the lobby. The surveyor rang the doorbell with no response, then called the after-hours number without identifying herself. The staff member who answered the phone gave the surveyor the front door code without asking any questions, and the surveyor was able to enter the facility and walk around without being questioned by staff. During another observation at 7:00 a.m., there were again no staff at the front entrance or in the lobby. A nurse surveyor rang the doorbell and received no answer. An employee with an outside lab service came from her car, entered the door code, and let the nurse surveyor in without asking who she was or why she was there. The lab employee then walked away. Interviews with CNA G and CNA H indicated they worked the overnight shift and that there were normally two aides and a nurse on both sides of the building. The ADM stated staff were supposed to come to the front entrance after hours, ask the person’s name and reason for visiting, and not give out the door code. Interviews with residents revealed they did not feel safe in the facility and stated that people could enter who should not have access. CNA C, MA F, the DON, and the ADM all stated that staff were responsible for keeping residents safe and that staff should not give out the door code. The DON and ADM also stated the facility did not have a policy for giving out the door code and did not know who had answered the phone and provided it. Record review showed the visitation policy allowed the facility to remain locked or secured at night with a system for allowing approved visitors, and the resident rights policy stated residents had the right to be informed of safety or clinical restrictions or limitations of visitation.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release August 26, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
In your survey window? See what surveyors are citing.
The Survey-Prep Report maps your facility's risk from 12 months of CMS and state citation data — what's being cited around you and what to check first. $129 one-time.