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Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living

Top 10 AL Deficiencies for Q1 2023

Top 10 AL Deficiencies for Q1 2023

The most frequently cited deficiencies during assisted living facility inspections for Q1 of 2023 continue to be related to individualized service plans and medication administration.

  • Of note, fall risk rating entered the top 10 list as the eighth most cited standard for the quarter. Check out this AHCA/NCAL blog post on falls screening and prevention.

 

See the full list from DSS of the top 10 deficiencies cited during inspections conducted from January 2023 – March 2023.

 

January 2023 – March 2023

22VAC40-73-450-C Individualized service plans The comprehensive individualized service plan shall be completed within 30 days after admission and shall include the following:

  1. Description of identified needs and date identified based upon the (i) UAI; (ii) admission physical examination; (iii) interview with resident; (iv) fall risk rating, if appropriate; (v) assessment of psychological, behavioral, and emotional functioning, if appropriate; and (vi) other sources;
  2. A written description of what services will be provided to address identified needs, and if applicable, other services, and who will provide them;
  3. When and where the services will be provided;
  4. The expected outcome and time frame for expected outcome;
  5. Date outcome achieved; and
  6. For a facility licensed for residential living care only, if a resident lives in a building housing 19 or fewer residents, a statement that specifies whether the resident does or does not need to have a staff member awake and on duty at night.
22VAC40-73-680-D

 

Administration of medications and related provisions Medications shall be administered in accordance with the physician’s or other prescriber’s instructions and consistent with the standards of practice outlined in the current registered medication aide curriculum approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
22VAC40-73-640-A Medication management plan and reference materials The facility shall have, keep current, and implement a written plan for medication management. The facility’s medication plan shall address procedures for administering medication and shall include:

  1. Methods to ensure an understanding of the responsibilities associated with medication management;
  2. Standard operating procedures, including the facility’s standard dosing schedule and any general restrictions specific to the facility;
  3. Methods to prevent the use of outdated, damaged, or contaminated medications;
  4. Methods to ensure that each resident’s prescription medications and any over-the-counter drugs and supplements ordered for the resident are filled and refilled in a timely manner to avoid missed dosages;
  5. Methods for verifying that medication orders have been accurately transcribed to medication administration records (MARs) within 24 hours of receipt of a new order or change in an order;
  6. Methods for monitoring medication administration and the effective use of the MARs for documentation;
  7. Methods to ensure that MARs are maintained as part of the resident’s record;
  8. Methods to ensure accurate counts of all controlled substances whenever assigned medication administration staff changes;
  9. Methods to ensure that staff who are responsible for administering medications meet the qualification requirements of 22 VAC 40-73-670;
  10. Methods to ensure that staff who are responsible for administering medications are adequately supervised, including periodic direct observation of medication administration;
  11. A plan for proper disposal of medication;
  12. Methods to ensure that residents do not receive medications or dietary supplements to which they have known allergies;
  13. Identification of the medication aide or the person licensed to administer drugs responsible for routinely communicating issues or observations related to medication administration to the prescribing physician or other prescriber;
  14. Methods to ensure that staff who are responsible for administering medications are trained on the facility’s medication management plan; and
  15. Procedures for internal monitoring of the facility’s conformance to the medication management plan.
22VAC40-73-450-E Individualized service plans The individualized service plan shall be signed and dated by the licensee, administrator, or his designee, (i.e., the person who has developed the plan), and by the resident or his legal representative. The plan shall also indicate any other individuals who contributed to the development of the plan, with a notation of the date of contribution. The title or relationship to the resident of each person who was involved in the development of the plan shall be included. These requirements shall also apply to reviews and updates of the plan.
22VAC40-73-860-I Maintenance of buildings and grounds Each facility shall store cleaning supplies and other hazardous materials in a locked area, except as noted in subsection J of this section.
22VAC40-73-440-A Uniform assessment instrument (UAI) All residents of and applicants to assisted living facilities shall be assessed face to face using the uniform assessment instrument in accordance with Assessment in Assisted Living Facilities (22VAC30-110). The UAI shall be completed prior to admission, at least annually, and whenever there is a significant change in the resident’s condition.
22VAC40-73-320-A Physical examination and report Within the 30 days preceding admission, a person shall have a physical examination by an independent physician. The report of such examination shall be on file at the assisted living facility and shall contain the following:

  1. The person’s name, address, and telephone number;
  2. The date of the physical examination;
  3. Height, weight, and blood pressure;
  4. Significant medical history;
  5. General physical condition, including a systems review as is medically indicated;
  6. Any diagnosis or significant problems;
  7. Any known allergies and description of the person’s reactions;
  8. Any recommendations for care including medication, diet, and therapy;
  9. Results of a risk assessment documenting the absence of tuberculosis in a communicable form as evidenced by the completion of the current screening form published by the Virginia Department of Health or a form consistent with it;
  10. A statement that the individual does not have any of the conditions or care needs prohibited by 22 VAC 40-73-310 H;
  11. A statement that specifies whether the individual is considered to be ambulatory or nonambulatory as defined in this chapter;
  12. A statement that specifies whether the individual is or is not capable of self-administering medication; and
  13. The signature of the examining physician or his designee.
22VAC40-73-325-B Fall risk rating The fall risk rating shall be reviewed and updated under each of the following circumstances:

  1. At least annually;
  2. When the condition of the resident changes; and
  3. After a fall.
22VAC40-73-870-A Maintenance of buildings and grounds The interior and exterior of all buildings shall be maintained in good repair and kept clean and free of rubbish.
22VAC40-73-250-D Staff records and health requirements Health information required by these standards shall be maintained at the facility and be included in the staff record for each staff person, and also shall be maintained at the facility for each household member who comes in contact with residents.

A. Initial tuberculosis examination and report.

  1. Each staff person on or within seven days prior to the first day of work at the facility and each household member prior to coming in contact with residents shall submit the results of a risk assessment, documenting the absence of tuberculosis in a communicable form as evidenced by the completion of the current screening form published by the Virginia Department of Health or a form consistent with it.
  2. The risk assessment shall be no older than 30 days.

B. Subsequent tuberculosis evaluations and reports.

  1. Any staff person or household member required to be evaluated who comes in contact with a known case of infectious tuberculosis shall be screened as determined appropriate based on consultation with the local health department.
  2. Any staff person or household member required to be evaluated who develops chronic respiratory symptoms of three weeks duration shall be evaluated immediately for the presence of infectious tuberculosis.
  3. Each staff person or household member required to be evaluated shall annually submit the results of a risk assessment, documenting that the individual is free of tuberculosis in a communicable form as evidenced by the completion of the current screening form published by the Virginia Department of Health or a form consistent with it.

C. Any individual suspected to have infectious tuberculosis shall not be allowed to return to work or have any contact with the residents and personnel of the facility until a physician has determined that the individual is free of infectious tuberculosis.

D. The facility shall report any active case of tuberculosis developed by a staff person or household member required to be evaluated to the local health department.

Posted in Assisted Living, DSS