HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation, interview and document review, the hospital failed to ensure an infection control program that included recommended methods for controlling infections within the hospital when it failed to initiate active screening for elevated temperatures for visitors as part of the hospital's COVID 19 response. This had the potential to impact all patients at the hospital.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings updated 5/18/20, included the following for the management of visitor access and movement within the facility: Actively assess all visitors for fever and COVID-19 symptoms upon entry to the facility. If fever or COVID-19 symptoms are present, the visitor should not be allowed entry into the facility.

Observations on 6/1/20, at 9:00 a.m. revealed staff at the entrance to the hospital in an enclosed area, who wore masks. The staff members stopped visitors at the door. Although staff screened this writer as a visitor to the hospital, and asked about any symptoms of illness before access was allowed into the hospital, they did not take this writer's temperature to ensure no fever.

During an interview on 6/1/20, at 3:00 p. m., the hospital Quality Manager (QM)-A stated there have very few visitors to the hospital, as the hospital has a no visitor policy, except in certain situations such as compassionate visits for dying patients. Hospital staff have not been actively screening the temperature of visitors prior to allowing them access to the hospital. QM-A stated they had run into some barriers related to the screening of visitor's temperatures, but had started to work on that issue.

The Policy titled COVID-19 Visitor Policy, dated 4/10/20, was reviewed. Under the section related to visitor requirements the following was noted:

All visitors will be screened for symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Visitors who do not pass the screening will not be allowed to visit. Visitors must wear visitor badge, personal protective equipment as directed by hospital staff, and screening sticker at all times in the facility. Visitors must use hand hygiene frequently while in the facility. Visitors should be instructed to only visit the patient room. They should not go to other locations in the facility.