By Walter F. Roche Jr.
The Covid-19 death toll among residents in Pennsylvania long term care facilities has hit 13,411, according to data compiled by the state Health Department.
The agency said Thursday the deaths at nursing home and personal care facilities were among 72,242 residents at those facilities who were sickened by the coronavirus.
The state health agency also reported 15,624 employees of licensed nursing homes and personal care homes were diagnosed with Covid-19.
Other records from the agency show some 20 nursing homes reported 50 or more Covid-19 deaths since the pandemic began well over a year ago.
The most deaths, 103, were reported at the Neshaminy Manor in Bucks County. Two facilities, the Gardens at West Shore and Rosewood Gardens in Broomall each reported 50 deaths.
Others with more than 50 deaths include Conestoga View in Lancaster at 81, Fair Acres in Lima-97, Cedarbrook in Allentown-83 and Cambria Care Center with 84.
Still other facilities with more than 50 coronavirus deaths include Berks Heim in Berks County with 68, Allied Services in Allentown-65, Centre Crest in Bellefonte-74, Manor Care in Sinking Springs-60, Cedar Haven of Lebanon-68 and Brighton Rehabilitation of Beaver 77.
The state health agency also reported 15,624 employees of licensed nursing homes and personal care homes were diagnosed with Covid-19.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Monday, July 26, 2021
New Process Speeds PA Hospital Upgrades
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
On June 4 of this year surveyors from the Pennsylvania Health Department visited the Geisinger Medical Center to verify that the recent replacement equipment and new services at the facility were in compliance with state requirements.
The visit came one day shy of a year after the state agency instituted a new process for approving hospital requests for replacement equipment and new services.
Due to the new process Geisinger didn't have to wait for the state's sometimes overwhelmed surveying staff to make a site visit before actually putting the replacement equipment or new services in to operation. Recent attestations submitted by Geisinger include speech therapy services and a system to control post partum complications.
Under the new procedure, which went into effect June 5 of last year, the health facility filled out and submitted to the state an attestation certifying that the equipment was properly installed and in compliance with state requirements.
Sixty days after that notification the new services or equipment could go into operation, the department announced in 2020.
"Prior to this a facility would have to wait... and that could take time," Maggi Barton, the agency's deputy press secretary wrote in response to questions. The goal, she added, was greater efficiency.
The agency said in an announcement of the change, "We recognize that the demand for surveys has outpaced our staffing resources, which, on occasion has left hospitals waiting."
If the health facilities attestations are found wanting when surveyors make a site visit, that could trigger further reviews of other attestations, according to the state policy. While new services and replacement equipment can come under the speedier process, attestations cannot be used for renovations or new construction.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
On June 4 of this year surveyors from the Pennsylvania Health Department visited the Geisinger Medical Center to verify that the recent replacement equipment and new services at the facility were in compliance with state requirements.
The visit came one day shy of a year after the state agency instituted a new process for approving hospital requests for replacement equipment and new services.
Due to the new process Geisinger didn't have to wait for the state's sometimes overwhelmed surveying staff to make a site visit before actually putting the replacement equipment or new services in to operation. Recent attestations submitted by Geisinger include speech therapy services and a system to control post partum complications.
Under the new procedure, which went into effect June 5 of last year, the health facility filled out and submitted to the state an attestation certifying that the equipment was properly installed and in compliance with state requirements.
Sixty days after that notification the new services or equipment could go into operation, the department announced in 2020.
"Prior to this a facility would have to wait... and that could take time," Maggi Barton, the agency's deputy press secretary wrote in response to questions. The goal, she added, was greater efficiency.
The agency said in an announcement of the change, "We recognize that the demand for surveys has outpaced our staffing resources, which, on occasion has left hospitals waiting."
If the health facilities attestations are found wanting when surveyors make a site visit, that could trigger further reviews of other attestations, according to the state policy. While new services and replacement equipment can come under the speedier process, attestations cannot be used for renovations or new construction.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
PA Hospital Failed to Report RN Drug Incident
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A Renovo hospital has been cited by the state Health Department for not properly reporting that an agency nurse had been caught diverting narcotic drugs and was under the influence while on duty.
The report on the Bucktail Medical Center states that the nurse was caught on Oct. 16, 2020, but the information wasn't reported to the Patient Safety Authority until June of this year.
The report notes that under Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act, such an incident should have been reported within 24 hours of its discovery.
In addition the hospital, which describes itself as a 23-bed critical access hospital, failed to report the matter to the state Attorney General's office.
A review of meeting minutes of the hospitals governing board showed the fact that a nurse had diverted and tampered with narcotic drugs was discussed at a subsequent meeting of the facility's governing board.
The facility also failed to report that the hospital had gone on lockdown on March 2 of this year. The lockdown was triggered by the report of a shooter in the area.
The lockdown, which prevented patients or visitors from leaving or entering the building, was also belatedly reported to the state.
The hospital filed a plan of correction in which it promised to properly report unusual incidents both internally and externally.
Hospital officials did not respond to a series of questions on the report.
Other items in the report included the failure of two board members to file annual conflict of interest reports, food not being kept at proper temperatures, and missing continuing education requirements.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A Renovo hospital has been cited by the state Health Department for not properly reporting that an agency nurse had been caught diverting narcotic drugs and was under the influence while on duty.
The report on the Bucktail Medical Center states that the nurse was caught on Oct. 16, 2020, but the information wasn't reported to the Patient Safety Authority until June of this year.
The report notes that under Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act, such an incident should have been reported within 24 hours of its discovery.
In addition the hospital, which describes itself as a 23-bed critical access hospital, failed to report the matter to the state Attorney General's office.
A review of meeting minutes of the hospitals governing board showed the fact that a nurse had diverted and tampered with narcotic drugs was discussed at a subsequent meeting of the facility's governing board.
The facility also failed to report that the hospital had gone on lockdown on March 2 of this year. The lockdown was triggered by the report of a shooter in the area.
The lockdown, which prevented patients or visitors from leaving or entering the building, was also belatedly reported to the state.
The hospital filed a plan of correction in which it promised to properly report unusual incidents both internally and externally.
Hospital officials did not respond to a series of questions on the report.
Other items in the report included the failure of two board members to file annual conflict of interest reports, food not being kept at proper temperatures, and missing continuing education requirements.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Monday, July 19, 2021
Critical Test Results Held Nine Months
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A Bucks County hospital didn't tell a patient or the treating physician about "a signficant abnormality" that turned up in test results until nine months after the test had been performed, according to Pennsylvania Health Department records.
In a four-page report just made public the agency said Aug. 17, 2020 CAT scan results from the Grand View Hospital showing a 3.4 centimeter "enhancing mass" on the patient's left kidney were not provided to the patient and the doctor who ordered the tests until mid-May of this year.
When it did finally provide the patient with the test results, the Sellersville hopital advised the patient to see his doctor "as soon as possible."
A hospital spokeswoman, Wendy Kaiser, said the hospital had self-reported the incident to the state and the facilty's plan of correction in response to the survey had been accepted. She did not respond to several other questions including the current status of the patient.
The Health Department report states that the report was the result of "an unannounced Special Monitor survey."
An addendum to the original 2020 test report states,"The patient will be receiving a notice as a result of a determination by your diagnostic imaging service that further discussion of the test results are warranted and would be beneficial to the patient."
The hospital records note that the finding is "consistent with renal neoplastic disease" or cancer.
The report concludes that the hospital violated the state Patient Test Result Information Act which mandates that imaging entities directly inform patients or their designees of test results showing "significant abnormalities."
In a plan of correction filed by Grand View, hospital officials said re-education programs were held to remind radiologists of reporting requirements and audit would be conducted to ensure that test results were being reported as required.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A Bucks County hospital didn't tell a patient or the treating physician about "a signficant abnormality" that turned up in test results until nine months after the test had been performed, according to Pennsylvania Health Department records.
In a four-page report just made public the agency said Aug. 17, 2020 CAT scan results from the Grand View Hospital showing a 3.4 centimeter "enhancing mass" on the patient's left kidney were not provided to the patient and the doctor who ordered the tests until mid-May of this year.
When it did finally provide the patient with the test results, the Sellersville hopital advised the patient to see his doctor "as soon as possible."
A hospital spokeswoman, Wendy Kaiser, said the hospital had self-reported the incident to the state and the facilty's plan of correction in response to the survey had been accepted. She did not respond to several other questions including the current status of the patient.
The Health Department report states that the report was the result of "an unannounced Special Monitor survey."
An addendum to the original 2020 test report states,"The patient will be receiving a notice as a result of a determination by your diagnostic imaging service that further discussion of the test results are warranted and would be beneficial to the patient."
The hospital records note that the finding is "consistent with renal neoplastic disease" or cancer.
The report concludes that the hospital violated the state Patient Test Result Information Act which mandates that imaging entities directly inform patients or their designees of test results showing "significant abnormalities."
In a plan of correction filed by Grand View, hospital officials said re-education programs were held to remind radiologists of reporting requirements and audit would be conducted to ensure that test results were being reported as required.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Compounding Drug Recall
US Food and Drug Administration
Innoveix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall of All Sterile Compounded Drug Products Due to A Lack of Sterility Assurance
Innoveix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is voluntarily recalling the following lots of sterile compounded drug products, within expiry. The products are being recalled due to a lack of assurance of sterility. These concerns arose following a routine inspection of the pharmacy by FDA.
Administration of a drug product intended to be sterile, that is not sterile, could result in serious infections which may be life-threatening. To date, Innoveix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall. This voluntary recall is being conducted out of an abundance of caution and to promote patient safety, which is the pharmacy's highest priority.
The affected products are injectable Semorelin / Ipamorelin 3mg and injectable AOD-9604 3mg. The products can be used for various indications as prescribed. The products can be identified by an Innoveix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. label.
Sunday, July 11, 2021
State Home Failed to Control Resident
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Staff at a state run nursing home for veterans failed to control a resident who engaged in bizarre behavior and became belligerent and combative when anyone tried to re-direct him.
"The facility failed to report, investigate and monitor potential resident-to-resident incidents" states the May 25 report on the Southwest Veterans Center in Pittsburgh.
According to the state Health Department report, the unidentified resident would go into another resident's room, dressed or undressed, and then get into the other resident's bed, whether the other resident was already in the bed or not.
Staff attempts to redirect the resident triggered "very belligerent and combative" behavior, the report states.
The report notes that the resident apparently suffered from Sundowner's Syndrome, a condition not uncommon among dementia patients. Those suffering from the condition may become confused and combative later in the day.
The nursing home was faulted for not reporting the incidents to the state despite the fact that at least 11 staffers were aware of the resident-on-resident incidents.
The resident had been admitted in early March with a diagnosis of vascular dementia yet the facility had failed to develop a care plan to address his behaviors.
In a plan of correction filed by the nursing home, officials said that the resident was moved to a private room and checks on the patient were made every 15 minutes.
The state surveyors had found that staff failed to perform those checks on three days in mid-May.
The Health Department report also cites the facility for failing to obtain physician authorizations for patients requiring dialysis.
For one patient there were no physician authorizations for two full months.
Another state run veterans nursing home in Scranton was cited by state surveyors for failing to investigate a possible case of patient abuse.
The patient's daughter had complained that her father had a bruise on his back when he was taken to a hospital emergency room. The daughter reported the bruise to nursing home officials but it was never investigated.
Officials of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which runs the homes, did not immediately respond to questions about the reports.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gamil.com
Staff at a state run nursing home for veterans failed to control a resident who engaged in bizarre behavior and became belligerent and combative when anyone tried to re-direct him.
"The facility failed to report, investigate and monitor potential resident-to-resident incidents" states the May 25 report on the Southwest Veterans Center in Pittsburgh.
According to the state Health Department report, the unidentified resident would go into another resident's room, dressed or undressed, and then get into the other resident's bed, whether the other resident was already in the bed or not.
Staff attempts to redirect the resident triggered "very belligerent and combative" behavior, the report states.
The report notes that the resident apparently suffered from Sundowner's Syndrome, a condition not uncommon among dementia patients. Those suffering from the condition may become confused and combative later in the day.
The nursing home was faulted for not reporting the incidents to the state despite the fact that at least 11 staffers were aware of the resident-on-resident incidents.
The resident had been admitted in early March with a diagnosis of vascular dementia yet the facility had failed to develop a care plan to address his behaviors.
In a plan of correction filed by the nursing home, officials said that the resident was moved to a private room and checks on the patient were made every 15 minutes.
The state surveyors had found that staff failed to perform those checks on three days in mid-May.
The Health Department report also cites the facility for failing to obtain physician authorizations for patients requiring dialysis.
For one patient there were no physician authorizations for two full months.
Another state run veterans nursing home in Scranton was cited by state surveyors for failing to investigate a possible case of patient abuse.
The patient's daughter had complained that her father had a bruise on his back when he was taken to a hospital emergency room. The daughter reported the bruise to nursing home officials but it was never investigated.
Officials of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which runs the homes, did not immediately respond to questions about the reports.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gamil.com
Friday, July 9, 2021
Hospital Lacked Donor Organ Consent Form
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A Muncy hospital has been cited for failing to have a signed consent form in the record of a deceased patient whose eyes and skin were donated to an organ procurement agency. The deficiency was noted in a May 21 licensure inspection report on UPMC Muncy, a 20 in-patient bed facility which describes itself as "a full service critical access" hospital.
According to the report, which was recently posted by the state Health Department, the unidentified patient died on Sept. 20, 2020 and was brought to the operating room for harvesting of eye, skin and musculoskeletal tissue. "No consent for donation," state surveyors reported after reviewing the patient's file.
As part of its plan of correction the Lycoming County hospital indicated it had been in touch with staff of the Gift of Life, the local organ procurement agency, to ensure that consent forms were included in future patient records.
The lack of a consent form was one of several citations included in the May 21 report. A review of hospital records showed that two members of the hospital board were sitting on the patient safety committee, a violation of a state law, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act.
According to the plan of correction, one of the board members was removed from the committee.
Other items cited in the state report include open medication containers without dates indicating when they were opened and outdated supplies that had not been discarded.
The report also cites the hospital for failing to have an operating CAT scan service of Jan. 4 and Jan. 5 of this year. Four patients requiring those services had to be shuttled to another facility.
A UPMC spokeswoman said the facility filed a plan of correction that was accepted by the state.
"UPMC Muncy is cooperating with state officials and implemented a corrective action plan to address the issues in the complaint. The plan has been reviewed and accepted by the Department of Health," UPMC spokeswoman Jackie Flanagan wrote in an email response to questions.
She did not respond to questions about the missing organ donor consent form.
Contact:wfrochejr999@gmail.com
A Muncy hospital has been cited for failing to have a signed consent form in the record of a deceased patient whose eyes and skin were donated to an organ procurement agency. The deficiency was noted in a May 21 licensure inspection report on UPMC Muncy, a 20 in-patient bed facility which describes itself as "a full service critical access" hospital.
According to the report, which was recently posted by the state Health Department, the unidentified patient died on Sept. 20, 2020 and was brought to the operating room for harvesting of eye, skin and musculoskeletal tissue. "No consent for donation," state surveyors reported after reviewing the patient's file.
As part of its plan of correction the Lycoming County hospital indicated it had been in touch with staff of the Gift of Life, the local organ procurement agency, to ensure that consent forms were included in future patient records.
The lack of a consent form was one of several citations included in the May 21 report. A review of hospital records showed that two members of the hospital board were sitting on the patient safety committee, a violation of a state law, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act.
According to the plan of correction, one of the board members was removed from the committee.
Other items cited in the state report include open medication containers without dates indicating when they were opened and outdated supplies that had not been discarded.
The report also cites the hospital for failing to have an operating CAT scan service of Jan. 4 and Jan. 5 of this year. Four patients requiring those services had to be shuttled to another facility.
A UPMC spokeswoman said the facility filed a plan of correction that was accepted by the state.
"UPMC Muncy is cooperating with state officials and implemented a corrective action plan to address the issues in the complaint. The plan has been reviewed and accepted by the Department of Health," UPMC spokeswoman Jackie Flanagan wrote in an email response to questions.
She did not respond to questions about the missing organ donor consent form.
Contact:wfrochejr999@gmail.com
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