Review of 2012 F441 citations

At a recent provider association meeting with CMS Region V the frequency of F441 citations was discussed and frustration was voiced with the myriad of ways F441 can and is cited.  Information was requested from CMS on a breakdown of the different ways F441 is cited so that specific issues could be addressed by providers and perhaps also to aid CMS in categorizing F441 tags in the future for education and quality improvement initiatives.

CMS is taking the discussion under advisement, but in the meantime Kim Rhoades from the Indiana State Department of Health provided the following detail on F441 citations on 2012 surveys (standard and complaint).

F441 was cited on 233 surveys.  F441 was cited:

-84 tags involved Handwashing
-67 tags involved infections control issue during med pass
-41 tags involved using gloves but touching unsanitary surfaces, or not using gloves at all or other issues with gloves (the universal ‘so long as I have gloves on, I can touch anything)
-33 tags involved failure to follow isolation precaution
-32 tags involved glucometers
-32 tags involved mishandling of linens
-27 tags involved issues with TB testing for residents
-23 tags involved various aspects of meal service
-16 tags involved unsanitary equipment other than glucometers
-10 tags involved failing to have tracking of infections, etc. as part of their infection control program
-8 tags involved contamination issues involving would care
-7 tags involved catheter care
-3 tags involved pericare
-3 tags involved 02 tubing
-3 tags involved Scabies
-2 tags involved Trach care
-2 tags involved wound vac
-1 tags involved PICC line care
-1 tags involved no handwashing policy

IHCA encourages its members to study the above list and focus on the most frequent citation pathways for F4441 as it is the  most cited tag.