CT Releases Infection Control Deficiency Reports At Nursing Homes

CONNECTICUT — The state Department of Public Health released information about 20 nursing homes that had alleged deficiencies during the pandemic. The state released the reports amid growing concern about the coronavirus case and death toll at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. There have been nearly 1,500 confirmed deaths among nursing home residents in Connecticut as of May 13 along with another 440 probable coronavirus-related deaths.

The deficiencies were found when the state inspected all 213 homes in the state in conjunction with the Connecticut National Guard and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Two deficiencies were found for improperly notification inside the facility and to families. Another three deficiencies were found due to improper physical distancing between residents.

There were four additional findings for various infection control issues and 11 findings related to improper use or cleaning of personal protective equipment.

Related: Coronavirus Deaths, Cases For All CT Elder Care, Nursing Homes

Facilities can choose to dispute the findings and must come up with plans to take corrective action that need to be approved by DPH.

Executives from the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities and Leading Age Connecticut said they believe Connecticut is ahead of all other states in terms of rigorous and complete inspections of nursing homes during the pandemic.

“We believe Connecticut nursing homes are performing at an extraordinary level given the challenges of fighting this insidious virus while faced with changing guidance, an inadequate PPE supply chain and a statewide testing initiative that has only recently begun,” said CAHCF CEO Matt Barrett and Leading Age Connecticut President Mag Morelli. “And while we would prefer that these focused inspections did not result in any findings, we absolutely welcome the Department’s oversight and efforts in ensuring that Connecticut nursing home infection control procedures are in adherence with the latest of what has been ever changing CDC guidance.”

Some of the reports give specific instances of observed practices regarding personal protective equipment use or failure to properly social distance according to CDC guidelines.

Inspectors noted that three residents were sitting within six inches of each and without masks other at Abbott Terrace Health Center in Waterbury April 29 during an inspection. Abbot Terrace is one of the hardest-hit Connecticut nursing homes with 33 confirmed and eight probable coronavirus-related deaths, according to DPH data as of May 13. The 205-bed facility had 115 coronavirus cases.

An occupational therapist told inspectors that the residents had all tested negative for COVID-19. However, an interview with another staff member revealed that one of the residents tested positive for the virus on April 8 and hadn’t had a fever for the past 72 hours.

The facility also didn’t provide a resident mask or social distancing policy, according to the report.

Officials from the facility wrote in the report that the three residents have had no further instances of not wearing masks outside of their room or problems maintaining social distancing. Staff and residents have been re-educated about the mask and social distancing policies.

Inspectors visited Regalcare at New Haven and found that the facility failed to provide staff working in the COVID-19 designated area with enough gowns, failed to utilize gowns, and failed to maintain active surveillance to prevent the spread of infection.

The facility was toured May 1 and 2 and inspectors were told that the facility had a total of 24 washable gowns. On that date there were seven rooms with 18 COVID-19 positive residents. The unit was staffed with five nurse aids and two licensed practical nurses.

A registered nurse told inspectors that the facility was short on PPE and that washable gowns were being used in the COVID-19 unit. The gowns were falling apart after several washings, the nurse told inspectors. The gowns were being washed after each shift in the COVID-19 unit.

A receptionist was unable to find the thermometer for the temperature screening processing prior to people entering the facility. An RN brought down a thermometer that had been used to check staff member temperatures.

Review of records found 10 employees didn’t have documented temperature screenings on May 2.

Officials from the facility said in the report that they obtained new gowns on May 1 and would re-educate employees on proper use of PPE and proper temperature screening protocol.

Below are the facilities that inspectors determined had deficiencies. Click on the report links for more information regarding alleged violations along with the facility’s response and any proposed corrective action.