Residential Care Citation Update

In June 2014 the ISDH issued 40 Deficiency tags and 7 Offense tags to Residential Care Facilities.  Tag 273 concerning maintenance of food preparation and service areas in accordance with state and local sanitation standards was cited 7 times, and Tag 241 concerning the administration of medications by licensed nurses or QMAs was cited 5 times.  These continue to be the most cited tags in 2014 with Tag 273 issued 31 times and Tag 241 issued 21 times.

•    Citation Trends
It appears also that the ISDH surveyors are paying more close attention to hand washing when they survey residential care facilities.  Tag 414 was issued 3 times in June for failure of staff to wash hands after each direct resident contact.  The tag was also cited twice in March and April, and once in May, for a total of 8 citations in 2014.  The tag was only issued 6 times in all of 2013.  In addition, Tag 301 concerning the proper labeling of prescription drugs has been cited 3 times in June, once in March and once in May, for a total of 5 citations in 2014.  The tag was cited 6 times in all of 2013.  Tag 301 requires prescription drugs to be labeled with the resident’s full name, physician’s name, prescription number, name and strength of drug, directions for use, date of issue and expiration (when applicable), and the name and address of the pharmacy that filled the prescription.  Reasonable variations to these requirements can apply to units does packaging.  Lastly, Tag 154 has been cited 4 times in June, 3 times in May and 1 time in each of April and March, for failure to keep kitchen and dining areas clean and in good repair.  Though Tag 154 has been frequently cited in the past, including 20 times in 2013, it had not been cited in 2014 with much frequency until the last 2 months.

To review the June citations click here.